Church Fathers Commentary John 2:23-25

"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did. But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man." — John 2:23-25 (ASV)

The Venerable Bede: The Evangelist has related above what our Lord did on His way to Jerusalem; now he relates how others reacted to Him in Jerusalem: Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, on the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did.

Origen of Alexandria: But how could many have believed in Him from seeing His miracles? For He does not seem to have performed any supernatural works in Jerusalem, unless we suppose Scripture has omitted them. However, could not the act of making a scourge of small cords and driving everyone out of the temple be considered a miracle?

St. John Chrysostom: Wiser, however, were those disciples who were brought to Christ not by His miracles, but by His teaching. For it is the less perceptive who are attracted by miracles; the more rational are convinced by prophecy or doctrine. And therefore, the text continues, But Jesus did not commit himself unto them.

St. Augustine of Hippo: What does this mean: Many believed in His name, but Jesus did not commit Himself unto them? Did they not truly believe in Him, but only pretend to? If so, the Evangelist would not have said, Many believed in His name. It is a wonderful and strange thing that people should trust Christ, yet Christ does not entrust Himself to them—especially since He was the Son of God and suffered voluntarily, when He did not need to suffer at all.

This is the state of all catechumens. If we say to a catechumen, “Do you believe in Christ?” he answers, “I do believe,” and crosses himself. But if we ask him, “Do you eat the flesh of the Son of Man?” he does not know what we are saying, for Jesus has not yet committed Himself to him.

Origen of Alexandria: Alternatively, it was to those who believed in His name, not in Him, that Jesus would not commit Himself. Those who believe in Him are those who follow the narrow way which leads to life; those who believe merely in His name are those who believe only because of the miracles.

St. John Chrysostom: Or, it means that He did not place confidence in them as perfected disciples. He did not entrust all His teachings to them as if they were brothers of confirmed faith, because He looked past their outward words and into their hearts, knowing full well how short-lived their zeal was.

The reason is that He knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. To know what is in a person’s heart is in the power of God alone, who fashioned our hearts. He does not need witnesses to inform Him about the mind that He Himself has formed.

St. Augustine of Hippo: The Maker knew what was in His own work better than the work knew what was in itself. Peter did not know what was in himself when he said, “I will go with You to death,” but our Lord’s answer showed that He knew what was in man: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

The Venerable Bede: This is an admonition to us not to be confident in ourselves, but to be ever-watchful and self-doubting, knowing that what escapes our own awareness cannot escape the eternal Judge.