Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 3:9-10

"Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?" — John 3:9-10 (ASV)

Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, Are you a master of Israel, and do not know these things?

A very similar query to that might be put to some who are living now: "Are you profound philosophers, students deeply learned in classic lore, or wise concerning many of the mysteries of nature; yet do you not know these things? What will be the good of all your knowledge if you do not know how to gain admission into the kingdom of heaven? It would be better for a man to be ignorant of all other things, and to know this one thing, than to have all possible human learning, and yet to miss this knowledge which is the most essential of all.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" (John 3:9–10)

These simple things – these elementary principles – these rudiments of the school book of believers.

Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, Are you a master of Israel, and do not know these things? (John 3:9–10)

"These things" that lie at the very root of everything. "Are you a Rabbi and do you not know this?" Alas, good Master, there are still many Rabbis who do not understand this; many, who have taken the highest degree the University can give them, yet do not know in their own souls what it is to be born again!

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

These A B C truths, which are taught in the very first school-book used by Christ's scholars — Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knoweth not these things?

"So learned in the law of God, are you ignorant of the Spirit of God? Have you read the law so many times, and not yet found out that natural births and outward washings are of no use in spiritual things?"

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knoweth not these things?

"Do you profess to teach others, and have you never been taught this first great spiritual truth?" Nicodemus was not the last Rabbi who did not understand what it is to be born again, and it is greatly to be feared that there are still many, who are teachers of others, who yet have never experienced this all-important change.

The Lord have mercy upon them!