Section 461
II. Here is a supposition of her ignorance, "if thou know not"
Which is not to be understood, either by way of hesitation or reprehension, as if Christ either doubted of her ignorance, or reproved her for it, but by way of inference from what she had suggested; for this particle if, is not always hypothetic or conditional, but is sometimes illative (see Philippians 2:1), and thus the words may be rendered, "seeing thou knowest not," so Junius; or "because thou knowest not;" and may be considered as a reason why Christ gave her the following direction and advice, and will lead us to observe these two things: 1. That believers may, in some measure, be ignorant of a great many things in this life; this life is a state of imperfection, both with respect to holiness and knowledge; the greatest believer knows but in part, and sees things but through a glass, darkly; he is ignorant of himself in a great measure, though he may know much of the plague of his own heart, of the corruptions and treachery of it, yet he does not know all; for the heart is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?" These words may be rendered from the Hebrew text, thus,[3371] "If thou know not to thee, or, for thyself," so Ainsworth; or, "if thou knowest not thyself;" it is generally looked upon as a pleonasm, yet it may intend, not only the ignorance which was in herself, but also her ignorance of herself. Again, a believer maybe in some measure ignorant of Christ and his gospel; he may not so fully know his relation and union to him, and interest in him: many of those truths, which concern Christ's person, grace, and kingdom, may be but obscurely revealed unto him; he may have but a small insight into them: tho' he may have been long in Christ's school, yet he may be but a babe in knowledge, and need to be taught "the first principles of the oracles of God:" our knowledge of these things at best is but imperfect, and when compared with that which saints shall have in glory, is very dark and obscure: also believers sometimes may be at a very great loss to know where Christ feeds his church and people; and this has been the case of the saints, as it was the church here, in times of persecution, darkness, and superstition; they have not only been at a loss for his presence, but they have also been at a loss for his ordinances; they have not only been ignorant where he was, but also they have not known where his gospel was preached in the power, and his ordinances administered in the purity of them. 2. That though Christ's people are ignorant of a great many things, and of such which, as one would think, they should not be ignorant of, but should make it their principal business to be acquainted with, yet Christ does not upbraid them with it; for "he has compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way;" as their merciful and faithful high priest, he has atoned for their sins, both of ignorance and presumption; and as their prophet he instructs them by his word and Spirit, and "guides their feet in the way of peace;" and therefore the most ignorant soul need not be discouraged from going to Christ for wisdom, counsel and direction; but let him that "lacketh wisdom, ask it of him, who giveth liberally to all men, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him," James 1:6.