John 3:33 - Exposition

He that receiveth his witness — i.e. his testimony to what he hath personally seen and heard in the heaven from which he has come— sealed —( ἐσφράγισεν ), confirmed by such very act, ratified arid vindicated as trustworthy and stable (cf. Romans 4:1-25 . l 1; Romans 15:28 ; 1 Corinthians 9:2 ; 2 Corinthians 1:22 . In other places the idea or image of a "seal" is used for guaranteeing a special commission, John 6:27 (see notes); Revelation 7:3 ; Ephesians 1:13 )— that God is true; i.e. admits that the words of Christ are the words of God, are absolute truth and reality—an idea which is made more obvious by verse 35, where Jesus is the Ambassador of God. It may even mean more than this, viz. that in Jesus "all the promises of God are Yea and Amen," that God is true in himself, and the witness of Christ embraces all that for which prophecy and promise and previous revelation had prepared the way (see Luthardt and Westcott). Such an idea is certainly beyond the scope of John's ministry or message.