| Geneva Study Bible He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for {q} a season to rejoice in his light. (q) A little while. Wesley's Notes 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light - Inwardly burning with love and zeal, outwardly shining in all holiness. And even ye were willing for a season - A short time only. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 35. He was a burning and a shining light-literally, "the burning and shining lamp" (or torch):-that is, "the great light of his day." Christ is never called by the humble word here applied to John-a light-bearer-studiously used to distinguish him from his Master, but ever the Light in the most absolute sense. (See on [1785]Joh 1:6). willing for a season-that is, till they saw that it pointed whither they were not prepared to go. to rejoice in his light-There is a play of irony here, referring to the hollow delight with which his testimony tickled them. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 5:30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners, still proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. But when the hearts of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the word of God to abide in them. | 
