Of myself - John 7:16-18.

For I have not spoken of myself - I have not spoken for my secular interest: I have not aimed at making any gain of you: I have not set up myself as your teachers in general do, to be supported by my disciples, and to be credited on my own testimony. I have taught you, not the things of men, but the deep, everlasting truths of God. As his envoy, I came to you; and his truth only Iproclaim.

Gave me a commandment - Or, commission. So I understand the original word, εντολη. Christ, as the Messiah, received his commission from God; what he should command - every thing that related to the formation and establishment of the Christian institution: and what he should speak - all his private conversations with his disciples or others, he, as man, commanded and spoke through the constant inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

For I have not spoken of myself,.... As man, or as separate from his Father; his doctrine was not human, but divine, and therefore a rejection of it cannot escape notice at the future judgment:

but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment what I should say, and what I should speak; Christ, as man, had his mission, and commission, and his instructions from his Father to preach the Gospel unto men; he was anointed for it by the Holy Ghost; he was enjoined the preaching of it by his Father, and the several doctrines he published were delivered him by him; see John 8:28.

Of myself (ἐξ ἐμαυτοῦ)

Out of myself. This formula occurs only here. The usual expression is ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ. Ἁπό, from, as distinguished from ἐκ, out of, marks rather the point of departure, while ἐκ, including this idea, emphasizes the point of departure as the living and impelling source of that which issues forth. In John 7:17, we read, "whether it be out of God (ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ), or whether I speak from myself (ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ)."

Gave (ἔδωκεν)

The best texts read δέδεκεν, the perfect tense, hath given, the result of the gift still abiding. So Rev.

Say - speak (εἴπω - λαλήσω)

The former relating to the substance, and the latter to the form of Jesus' utterances.

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

12:47,48 I judge him not. He shall sit on the throne of judgment, not to condemn the world he came to save. The words he left in the world will decide the destiny of every man. All shall be judged by the things written in the books (Re 20:12).

12:44-50 Our Lord publicly proclaimed, that every one who believed on him, as his true disciple, did not believe on him only, but on the Father who sent him. Beholding in Jesus the glory of the Father, we learn to obey, love, and trust in him. By daily looking to Him, who came a Light into the world, we are more and more freed from the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery; we learn that the command of God our Saviour is everlasting life. But the same word will seal the condemnation of all who despise it, or neglect it.