John 4:48

Except ye see. According to DA 198, the father had made his acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah (see on v. 45) conditional on the granting of his request, thinking that Jesus would the more readily comply in order to secure a “nobleman” as an adherent. But Jesus detected the note of insincerity in the nobleman’s manner of speech and bearing, and realized that his faith was imperfect. To be sure, he already had a measure of faith, or he would not have come at all. But faith such as his is far from perfect, and Jesus always required unquestioning and unconditional faith before divine power could be exercised.

The nobleman planned to believe if he could first see; Jesus required him to believe before he should see. Faith that is conditional upon the granting of certain requests rests on a weak foundation, and will fail under circumstances when God sees best not to grant what is desired. Jesus delayed answering the officer’s request because the nobleman was not ready to receive what he had come to ask for. In his present frame of mind he did not qualify to receive anything from the Lord (see James 1:5-7), and Jesus could do nothing for him until he should realize his utter need and be willing to exercise unquestioning and unconditional faith. He therefore gave him neither Yes nor No for an answer, and the father realized that his request had neither been granted nor denied.

Signs and wonders. That is, miracles (see pp. 208, 209).

Not believe. Or, “not believe at all.” In the Greek the double negative makes the statement most emphatic. The nobleman must have recognized this as a reflection of his own thoughts (see on ch. 1:47-49). The word “ye” is plural. Jesus thought of the Jewish leaders and others whose attitude was similar to that of the nobleman, and classed him with his unbelieving countrymen (see John 2:18; 6:30; 1 Cor. 1:22; see on Matt. 16:1-9). In contrast, the people of Samaria had recently taken Him at His word and received Him heartily, in simple faith (John 4:41, 42). Jesus was grieved that His own countrymen were so slow to believe (see on ch. 1:10, 11). He had a greater gift for the nobleman than the one he had come to ask for, the gift of salvation, and He could not bestow the lesser gift, the healing of the son, without the greater (see p. 209; DA 198).