Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 3:4

"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother`s womb, and be born?" — John 3:4 (ASV)

Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

His questions proved that he could not see the kingdom of God.

He blundered over the letter of Christ's message; he misunderstood the metaphor that Christ used; but did Jesus therefore not give Nicodemus any further instruction? Oh, no; Listen:

(Commentary continued in next verse) –

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Ah, me! Our blessed Master taught much by parables, and parabolic teaching is the best of teaching; but you see how readily it can be misunderstood, how people can take the emblem in a carnal way, and not understand its spiritual meaning. This is how the false doctrine of transubstantiation is taught. When Christ says of the bread, This is my body, the Romanists take his words literally, and so miss their spiritual meaning. It was in the same way that Nicodemus fell into error concerning Christ's teaching.

Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?

Thus, people interpret Christ's figures literally, and this has been the basis of many harmful errors and false doctrines. When He is using metaphors to make the matter clear, they immediately use the metaphor more as a cloak to hide the meaning than as a glass through which to see it.

This is the reason why the doctrine of transubstantiation has arisen. Because our Saviour said, This is my body, people have not been able to understand that He meant, "This represents my body. This is a figure." Truly, the letter killeth. It is the inner spirit that gives life.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

His religion was external, you see; he could not grasp the spiritual idea which Christ had set before him. This matter of the new birth is very simple to all of us who know what Jesus meant, but it was exceedingly difficult to Nicodemus; as it has been to all but those who have experienced it.