Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 17:8

"for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received [them], and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me." — John 17:8 (ASV)

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

He is looking at them in contrast with the world which utterly rejected him; in contrast with that world, the disciples had received and known Christ. Oh, what a blessed distinction does the grace of God make between men! We were all blind by nature; and now that we see, it is because the sacred finger of Christ has touched our eyes, and opened them. Let him have all the glory of it; yet let us note how well he speaks of his people: For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me;

You know how people talk against "verbal inspiration." Yet Christ says, I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me.

Many are trifling with the teaching of God's Word, as if it were of no importance at all. Not so did Christ: I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me.

And they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Firmly do we believe this, and in our heart of hearts we do accept every part of the teaching of Christ, no matter what it is. I hear people say, sometimes, "Oh, but that is not essential!" There is a great deal of mischief hatched out of that egg. My friends, it is essential that Christ's disciples should treasure whatever he has said!

Never trifle with that part of the Word of God which seems to be less essential to salvation than another portion; for if it is not essential to salvation, it may be essential to your comfort, or your holiness, or your strength, or your usefulness; and if it is essential to God's glory, let us never trample it in the mire, or in any way dishonour it. Who am I that I should say, "This which God has spoken is important, but that other is not"? We should not presume to judge the Word of God; we should rather let the Word of God judge us.

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

There are great depths in these words. One of the greatest of German divines always refused to preach from this chapter, for he said he felt that few of God's people had a sufficient measure of faith to understand it; and when he came to die, he had this read to him three times before he fell asleep. There is a world of wonderful mystery. Though the words are short and plain, yet the sense is fathomless.