{5} Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and {b} die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

(5) The death of Christ is as it were a sowing, which seems to be a dying of the corn, but indeed is the cause of a much greater harvest: and such as is the condition of the head, so will be the condition of the members.

(b) A wheat corn dies when it is changed in the ground, and becomes the root of a fruitful new plant.

People's New Testament

12:24 Verily, verily. These prefatory words give solemn emphasis.

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. This statement enforces a great truth. The grain of wheat may remain in the granary for a thousand years and be preserved, but it is useless there. It neither reproduces, nor is food. It is when it falls into the ground and undergoes dissolution, that it brings forth fruit. It is fruitful by giving itself up. So, too, Christ must give himself up. His death was needful in order that he might impart life to the nation. There is a lesson here for disciples who would bear much fruit (Joh 15:8).

Wesley's Notes

12:24 Unless a grain of wheat die - The late resurrection of Lazarus gave our Lord a natural occasion of speaking on this subject. And agreeable to his infinite knowledge, he singles out, from among so many thousands of seeds, almost the only one that dies in the earth: and which therefore was an exceeding proper similitude, peculiarly adapted to the purpose for which he uses it. The like is not to be found in any other grain, except millet, and the large bean.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] Except

Chapters 12-17 are a progression according to the order of approach to God in the tabernacle types: chapter 12., in which Christ speaks of His death, answers to the brazen altar of burnt-offering, type of the cross. Passing from the altar toward the holy of holies, the laver is next reached Ex 30:17-21, answering to Chapter 13. With His associate priests, now purified, the High Priest approaches and enters the holy place, in the high communion of Chapters 14-16. Entering alone the holy of holies Jn 17:1, the High Priest intercedes. (Cf) Heb 7:24-28. That intercession is not for the salvation, but the keeping and blessing of those for whom He prays. His death (assumed as accomplished), Jn 17:4 has saved them.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

24. Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit-The necessity of His death is here brightly expressed, and its proper operation and fruit-life springing forth out of death-imaged forth by a beautiful and deeply significant law of the vegetable kingdom. For a double reason, no doubt, this was uttered-to explain what he had said of His death, as the hour of His own glorification, and to sustain His own Spirit under the agitation which was mysteriously coming over it in the view of that death.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:20-26 In attendance upon holy ordinances, particularly the gospel passover, the great desire of our souls should be to see Jesus; to see him as ours, to keep up communion with him, and derive grace from him. The calling of the Gentiles magnified the Redeemer. A corn of wheat yields no increase unless it is cast into the ground. Thus Christ might have possessed his heavenly glory alone, without becoming man. Or, after he had taken man's nature, he might have entered heaven alone, by his own perfect righteousness, without suffering or death; but then no sinner of the human race could have been saved. The salvation of souls hitherto, and henceforward to the end of time, is owing to the dying of this Corn of wheat. Let us search whether Christ be in us the hope of glory; let us beg him to make us indifferent to the trifling concerns of this life, that we may serve the Lord Jesus with a willing mind, and follow his holy example.