John 3:7 Commentary and Bible Study

‘Do not be astonished. How is it that you do not know these things?’ is the implication. Nicodemus is astonished. His own standing is in question here. The whole Sanhedrin council – maybe there were one or two of them were pious men and earnest – but the generality of them were furious against Christ. Nicodemus is shattered. Where do you get this from? This is a most unusual viewpoint to be preaching, he thinks. How did you ever arrive at this? This is dangerous.The Greek is plural: All of you – Sanhedrin, Pharisees, people – you must be born again to have acceptance by God. You must, of course, be under the atoning blood of Christ. That is going to come a little later. But he is starting only with our nature. We are not ready for God; we do not desire him; we have no union with him.