“Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.”
My Notes
What Does John 11:57 Mean?
"Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him." The religious establishment issues a formal edict: anyone who knows Jesus' location must report it. This transforms the entire population into potential informants. The commandment reveals how desperate the authorities have become — they've lost track of Jesus and need the public's help to find him.
John's inclusion of this verse exposes the irony: the religious leaders have turned their institutions into a surveillance apparatus to hunt the Messiah they were supposed to welcome. The temple, meant to be the place where Israel encounters God, has become the headquarters of the operation to arrest him.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you ever seen a religious institution work against the very purpose it was created for?
- 2.How do you know when you're protecting a system instead of serving its purpose?
- 3.What does this verse reveal about what happens when institutional survival becomes the highest priority?
- 4.In your own faith community, where might the structure be getting in the way of the mission?
Devotional
The religious establishment put out a bounty. If you know where Jesus is, report it. They turned the whole city into a surveillance network — neighbors watching neighbors, worshippers becoming informants. All to find and arrest the very Messiah their entire religious system was built to anticipate.
The irony should make you shudder. The temple was supposed to be where God's presence dwelt. The priests were supposed to shepherd Israel toward their deliverer. The Pharisees devoted their lives to preparing for the Messiah's coming. And when he came, they organized a manhunt.
This is what happens when institutions become more important than their purpose. When the system designed to connect people with God becomes the system that hunts God down. When protecting the structure matters more than fulfilling the mission. The chief priests weren't evil in their own eyes. They were preserving order. Maintaining stability. Protecting the institution. And they were so busy protecting the institution that they couldn't recognize the person the institution existed to serve.
If you're part of any religious community — church, ministry, organization — this is the cautionary tale. When the system's survival becomes more important than its purpose, you end up issuing warrants for the very person you're supposed to be pointing people toward.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees,.... Who were of the sanhedrim:
had given a commandment; or published an…
Had given a commandment - Had given order; εντολην, positive order, or injunction, and perhaps with a grievous penalty,…
We have here an account of the consequences of this glorious miracle, which were as usual; to some it was a savour of…
Now both the chief priests, &c. Omit -both." The word is wanting in authority, and even if it were genuine it would not…
Cross References
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