But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

But that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, They hated me without a cause.

But this comes to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

But this has been so, in order that the saying may be fulfilled which stands written in their Law, 'They have hated me without any reason.'

This comes about so that the writing in their law may be made true, Their hate for me was without cause.

But that the word may be fulfilled. What is contrary to nature appears to be incredible. But nothing is more contrary to reason than to hate God; and, therefore, Christ says that so great was the malice with which their minds were envenomed, that they hated him without a cause Christ quotes a passage from Psalm 35:19, which, he says, is now fulfilled Not that the same thing did not happen, formerly, to David, but to reprove the obstinate malice of the nation, which reigned perpetually from age to age, being continued from grandfathers to grandchildren in unbroken succession; as if he had said, that they were in no respect better than their fathers, who hated David without a cause. Which is written in their Law. By the word Law, he means the Psalms; for the whole doctrine of the Prophets was nothing else than an appendage to the Law; and we know that the ministry of Moses lasted till the time of Christ. He calls it their Law, not as an expression of respect for them, but to wound them more deeply by a designation which was well known among them; as if he had said, "They have a Law transmitted to them by hereditary right, in which they see their morals painted to the life."

In their law - Psalm 35:19. All the Old Testament was sometimes called the law. The meaning here is that the same thing happened to him which did to the psalmist. The same words which David used respecting his enemies would express, also, the conduct of the Jews and their treatment of the Messiah. In both cases it was without cause. Jesus had broken no law, he had done no injury to his country or to any individual. It is still true that sinners hate him in the same way. He injures no one, but, amid all their hatred, he seeks their welfare; and, while they reject him in a manner for which they "can give no reason in the day of judgment," he still follows them with mercies and entreats them to return to him. Who has ever had any reason to hate the Lord Jesus? What injury has he ever done to any one of the human race? What evil has he ever said or thought of any one of them? What cause or reason had the Jews for putting him to death? What reason has the sinner for hating him now? What reason for neglecting him? No one can give a reason for it that will satisfy his own conscience, none that has the least show of plausibility. Yet no being on earth has ever been more hated, despised, or neglected, and in every instance it has been "without a cause." Reader, do you hate him? If so, I ask you why? Wherein has he injured you? or why should you think or speak reproachfully of the benevolent and pure Redeemer?

Written in their law - See on John 10:34 (note). These words are taken from Psalm 69:4. This psalm is applied to Christ, John 2:17; John 19:28; to the vengeance of God against Judea, Acts 1:20. The psalm seems entirely prophetic of Christ. His deep abasement is referred to, Psalm 69:2-5; his prayer for his disciples and followers, Psalm 69:6; that for himself, in the garden of Gethsemane, Psalm 69:15-19; his crucifixion, Psalm 69:20-22; the vengeance of God against the Jews, from Psalm 69:23-29; the glorious manner in which he gets out of all his sufferings, Psalm 69:30; the abolition of the Mosaic rites and ceremonies, Psalm 69:31, compared with Isaiah 66:3; and, finally, the establishment of the Gospel through the whole world, in Psalm 69:33 and following verses. The reader will do well to consult the psalm before he proceeds.

But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their (e) law, They hated me without a cause.
(e) Sometimes this word "law" refers to the five books of Moses, but in this place it refers to the whole scripture: for the place that he refers to is found in the Psalm.

But this cometh to pass,.... This hatred against Christ, and which is pointed at his people for his sake, and reaches to the Father also on his account, is suffered to be, and therefore should be patiently borne:
that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law: either in Psalm 35:19, or rather in Psalm 69:4; which is a psalm of Christ, as appears by citations out of it in the New Testament, or references to it; see John 2:17. The whole Scripture is sometimes called the law, as here; for not the law of Moses is meant, or the five books of Moses, but the writings of the Old Testament; which the Jews had in their hands, to them being committed the oracles of God; and sometimes are so called, when the book of Psalm is particularly referred to as now; see John 10:34; the words cited are,
they hated me without a cause; without any reason for it, Christ having given them no provocation, or just cause of offence, anger, or hatred. This sin of hating without a cause, is represented by the Jews as a very heinous one, and as the reason of the destruction of the second temple; under which they observe, that men studied in the law, and in the commandments, and in doing of good; and therefore ask why it was destroyed? the answer is, because there was under it, , "hatred without a cause": to teach us, that hatred without a cause is equal to the three (capital) transgressions, idolatry, adultery, and murder, for which they say the first temple was destroyed (w). This is a tacit acknowledgment that the sin here mentioned was a reigning one, or that it much abounded in the time of Christ.
(w) T. Bab, Yoma, fol. 9. 2. Hieros. Yoma, fol. 38. 3.

that the word might be fulfilled . . . They hated me without a cause--quoted from the Messianic Psalm 69:4, applied also in the same sense in John 2:17; Acts 1:20; Romans 11:9-10; Romans 15:3.

Psalm 69:4.