For them I sanctify MyselfIn this phrase, Jesus speaks of His dedication to the mission given by the Father. The term "sanctify" means to set apart for a holy purpose. Jesus, though sinless, sets Himself apart for the work of redemption. This act is a fulfillment of His role as the High Priest, as seen in
Hebrews 7:26-27, where He offers Himself as a sacrifice. The context of this statement is the Upper Room Discourse, where Jesus prays for His disciples, emphasizing His role in their spiritual journey. The sanctification of Jesus is a precursor to His crucifixion, where He fully dedicates Himself to the will of God for the salvation of humanity.
so that they too may be sanctified
The purpose of Jesus' sanctification is for the benefit of His followers. The disciples, and by extension all believers, are to be set apart for God's purposes. This reflects the call to holiness found inLeviticus 20:7-8, where God commands His people to be holy as He is holy. The sanctification of believers is a process of being made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit, as seen in1 Thessalonians 5:23. This phrase underscores the transformative power of Jesus' sacrifice, enabling believers to live lives that reflect God's holiness.
by the truth
The truth here refers to the Word of God, as Jesus previously stated inJohn 17:17, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." The truth is the divine revelation found in Scripture, which guides and transforms believers. This aligns with Jesus' declaration inJohn 14:6, where He states, "I am the way and the truth and the life." The truth is not only a set of doctrines but is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. The sanctification of believers is achieved through their relationship with Christ and adherence to His teachings, which are the ultimate truth.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, Jesus is praying to the Father on behalf of His disciples. He is the central figure in this passage, emphasizing His role in sanctification.
2.
DisciplesThe immediate audience of Jesus' prayer. They are the ones for whom Jesus sanctifies Himself, indicating their need for sanctification to fulfill their mission.
3.
SanctificationA key event and process in this verse, referring to being set apart for holy purposes. Jesus' sanctification is both an act and a model for His followers.
4.
The TruthRepresents the Word of God and the reality of God's nature and purposes. It is the means by which the disciples are sanctified.
5.
The Upper RoomThe setting of this prayer, part of Jesus' farewell discourse, where He prepares His disciples for His impending departure.
Teaching Points
The Model of SanctificationJesus sanctifies Himself as a model for His followers. Believers are called to follow His example by living lives set apart for God's purposes.
The Role of TruthSanctification is achieved through the truth of God's Word. Believers must immerse themselves in Scripture to be transformed and set apart.
Purposeful LivingSanctification is not an end in itself but a means to fulfill God's mission. Believers are sanctified to be effective witnesses in the world.
Holiness in Daily LifeSanctification involves daily choices to live according to God's standards, reflecting His holiness in every aspect of life.
Dependence on ChristJesus' prayer highlights the necessity of relying on His work and truth for sanctification, reminding believers of their dependence on Him.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of John 17:19?
2.How does John 17:19 emphasize the importance of sanctification in a believer's life?
3.What does "sanctify Myself" reveal about Jesus' role in our sanctification process?
4.How does John 17:19 connect to Leviticus 20:7 on holiness?
5.How can believers actively pursue sanctification in their daily lives?
6.In what ways does Jesus' sanctification impact our mission in the world?
7.What does "sanctify" mean in the context of John 17:19?
8.How does John 17:19 relate to Jesus' mission on earth?
9.Why is Jesus sanctifying Himself in John 17:19?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 17?
11.How can we live in truth and love through God?
12.What does 'All Truth Is God's Truth' mean?
13.What does the Bible say about sanctification?
14.What does the Bible say about holiness and sanctification?What Does John 17:19 Mean
For them• Jesus is crystal-clear about His motive: everything He is doing in this prayer is “for them,” the people the Father has given Him (John 17 : 6).
• He is acting on behalf of His disciples, and by extension all who will later believe through their word (John 17 : 20).
• This self-giving focus echoesJohn 10 : 15—“I lay down My life for the sheep”—andRomans 5 : 8, where Christ’s love is demonstrated “while we were still sinners.”
• The phrase positions the coming cross as a substitutionary work, just asIsaiah 53 : 5 foretold: “He was wounded for our transgressions.”
I sanctify Myself• “Sanctify” has the idea of setting apart for God’s special purpose. Jesus, already perfectly holy, now dedicates Himself to the Father’s saving plan in a unique, once-for-all way.
•Hebrews 7 : 26 describes Him as “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners.” By stepping toward the cross He intentionally sets Himself apart as the flawless sacrifice, fulfillingHebrews 10 : 10—“we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
• His voluntary consecration heightens the wonder ofPhilippians 2 : 8, where He “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death.”
so that they too• The goal is not merely His own consecration; it is the transformation of His people.
•Ephesians 5 : 25-27 says Christ “gave Himself up for her to sanctify her,” linking His self-offering with believers’ cleansing.
•2 Corinthians 5 : 15 reinforces this purpose: “He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves.”
may be sanctified• The same setting-apart Jesus embraces is now applied to us.
•Hebrews 2 : 11 stresses the shared family bond: “Both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family.”
• God’s will,1 Thessalonians 4 : 3 tells us, “is your sanctification.” Here Jesus ensures that will is accomplished.
• Practically, this means a life progressively conformed to Christ’s likeness (Romans 8 : 29) and separated from the world’s corruption (James 1 : 27).
by the truth• The means of our sanctification is “the truth,” immediately defined two verses earlier: “Your word is truth” (John 17 : 17).
•Psalm 119 : 160 affirms, “The entirety of Your word is truth,” underscoring the substance God uses to reshape us.
•2 Timothy 3 : 16-17 explains that Scripture “is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” equipping believers “for every good work.”
• By anchoring us in objective, revealed truth, Jesus protects us from the lies of the evil one (John 17 : 15) and guides us into increasing holiness.
summaryJesus deliberately sets Himself apart for the cross “for them,” securing our salvation. His consecration has a clear purpose: that we also be set apart for God. This sanctifying work is activated and sustained “by the truth,” the living, unchanging Word of God. In Christ’s self-dedication we find both the foundation and the means for our ongoing transformation into holy, truth-shaped lives.
(19)
And for their sakes I sanctify myself.--Comp. Note on
John 17:17. The consecration here thought of is that to the work which was immediately before Him--the offering Himself as a sacrifice. The word was in frequent use in the special sense of an offering or sacrifice set apart to God. As a New Testament example of this, comp.
Romans 15:16. By this consecration of Himself--which in a wider sense is for all men, but in the special sense is "for their sakes"--He will, as both Priest and Sacrifice, enter into the Holy of Holies of the heavenly temple, and will send the Holy Ghost, who will consecrate them.
That they also might be sanctified through the truth.--Better, as in the margin, . . . .might be truly sanctified. The words "they also" are emphatic, answering to "their sakes" and "myself" in the preceding clause.
Verse 19. -
And for their sakes - on their behalf -
I sanctify,
consecrate,
myself. The Father had consecrated him and sent him into the world, but over and above all this there were special and sacrificial acts of love and devotion which he made on behalf of his own. He went up voluntarily into the wilderness to be tempted for them; he wrought for them while it was yet day. He now was ready to commend himself to the supreme will of the Father, and to offer himself through the Spirit in his perfected humanity without spot of sin to God.
Ἁγιάζω is equivalent
προσφέρω σοὶ θυσίαν, as Chrysostom
says, and it is used for
הִקְדִּישׁ (
Exodus 13:2;
Deuteronomy 15:19). Christ is the Priest and the Victim, and the dedication of himself to this climax of his consecrated life is for the sake of the disciples (so Lange, Meyer, Godet, and Westcott).
That they also may be sanctified indeed - truly or veritably.
(1) We have to notice that the passive form of the second clause shows thatthat which the Lord, in its highest form, effects for himself, they receive as a work wrought in them by another.
(2) Using the wordἁγιάζειν in the same sense in both clauses, the consecration effected in the disciples must correspond with Christ's consecration in self-sacrificial love, in abandonment to the power of the Word which has revolutionized their whole being, in entire equipment for their calling, even to the point of hatred and antagonism from the world, and death for his sake. They are indeed to drink of his cup, and be baptized with his baptism. They must be crucified with him and buried with him, and rise again with him, in the activity of their faith.
(3)Ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, without the article, has the sense of "verily and indeed" (Matthew 22:16;2 Corinthians 7:14;1 John 3:18, etc.). It is not certain that 2 John I or 3 John I can be thus translated, but the classical usage of this phrase, and also ofἐπ ἀληθείας, leaves little doubt about its use here.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Forὑπὲρ(hyper)Preposition
Strong's 5228:Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.themαὐτῶν(autōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.Iἐγὼ(egō)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.sanctifyἁγιάζω(hagiazō)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 37:From hagios; to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate; to venerate.Myself,ἐμαυτόν(emauton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1683:Genitive case compound of emou and autos; of myself so likewise the dative case emautoi em-ow-to', and accusative case emauton em-ow-ton'.so thatἵνα(hina)Conjunction
Strong's 2443:In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.theyαὐτοὶ(autoi)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.tooκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.may beὦσιν(ōsin)Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.sanctifiedἡγιασμένοι(hēgiasmenoi)Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 37:From hagios; to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate; to venerate.byἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.[the] truth.ἀληθείᾳ(alētheia)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 225:From alethes; truth.
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NT Gospels: John 17:19 For their sakes I sanctify myself that (Jhn Jo Jn) 
