12:37-40 Does this mean that God sovereignly hardened the hearts of the Jews to prevent them believing in Jesus?
12:37-40 Does this mean that God sovereignly hardened the hearts of the Jews to prevent them believing in Jesus?
No! The Jews had hardened their own hearts and wilfully rejected Jesus, causing the truth to be veiled from them (CP Mt 13:10-16; Ac 28:23-28).
This is what Isaiah predicted would happen. John quotes Isa 53:1 in V38, and Isa 6:9-10 in V40 (CP Isa 53:1; 6:9-10).
The arm of the Lord in 53:1 refers to Jesus. It expresses His miracle working power (CP Psa 98:1; Isa 52:10; 59:16; 63:9; Ac 4:30; 11:21; 13:11). Isa 6:9-10 does not mean as some in the church teach, that God sovereignly hardened the hearts of the Jews to prevent them believing in Jesus because He had already determined not to save them.
As we saw earlier, both Mt 13:10-16 and Ac 28:23-28 clearly refute that, as do numerous other scriptures (CP Ex 32:10-14; De 32:15-18; Ac 13:44-47; 18:5-6; Ro 10:19-21).
In the way that the same sun melts wax and also hardens bricks, so too the gospel softens or hardens. It saves or damns all who hear it (CP Ro 2:5-11; 9:14-18; 1Cor 1:18-25; 2Cor 2:15-16).
Many times in scripture God is said to do the things He permits to be done.
See also comments on Mt 11:28-30, 13:10-11, 20:16; Jn 3:14-15, 3:36, 6:37, Ac 2:37-38, 13:48, 28:23-29, Ro 3:24-26 (A), 8:28-30, 9:7, 9:10-13, 9:14-18, 9:19-21, 10:14-17, 11:2 11:4, 11:7-10; Eph 1:3-6, 1:11-14, 2:8-10, 1Th 1:4; 2Ti 1:8-9; 1Pe 1:2, 1Jn 1:10, and author's studies Salvation - A Free Will Choice or Pedestinated? and Chosen by God? in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1).