1These thingsG5023 have I spokenG2980 to youG5213, thatG3363 ye shouldG4624 notG3363 be offendedG4624. 2They shall putG4160 youG5209 out of the synagoguesG656: yeaG235, the timeG5610 comethG2064, thatG2443 whoeverG3956 killethG615 youG5209 will thinkG1380 that he doethG4374 GodG2316 serviceG2999. 3AndG2532 these thingsG5023 will they doG4160 to youG5213, becauseG3754 they haveG1097 notG3756 knownG1097 the FatherG3962, norG3761 meG1691. 4ButG235 these thingsG5023 have I toldG2980 youG5213, thatG2443 whenG3752 the timeG5610 shall comeG2064, ye may rememberG3421 thatG3754 IG1473 toldG2036 youG5213 of themG846. AndG1161 these thingsG5023 I saidG2036 notG3756 to youG5213 atG1537 the beginningG746, becauseG3754 I wasG2252 withG3326 youG5216. 5ButG1161 nowG3568 I goG5217 toG4314 him that sentG3992 meG3165; andG2532 noneG3762 ofG1537 youG5216 askethG2065 meG3165, WhereG4226 goest thouG5217? 6ButG235 becauseG3754 I have saidG2980 these thingsG5023 to youG5213, sorrowG3077 hath filledG4137 yourG5216 heartG2588. 7NeverthelessG235 IG1473 tellG3004 youG5213 the truthG225; It is expedientG4851 for youG5213 thatG2443 IG1473 go awayG565: forG1063 ifG3362 I goG565 notG3362 awayG565, the ComforterG3875 willG2064 notG3756 comeG2064 toG4314 youG5209; butG1161 ifG1437 I departG4198, I will sendG3992 himG846 toG4314 youG5209. 8AndG2532 when he is comeG2064, heG1565 will reproveG1651 the worldG2889 ofG4012 sinG266, andG2532 ofG4012 righteousnessG1343, andG2532 ofG4012 judgmentG2920: 9OfG4012 sinG3303 G266, becauseG3754 they believeG4100 notG3756 onG1519 meG1691; 10OfG4012 G1161 righteousnessG1343, becauseG3754 I goG5217 toG4314 myG3450 FatherG3962, andG2532 ye seeG2334 meG3165 no moreG3765; 11OfG4012 G1161 judgmentG2920, becauseG3754 the princeG758 of thisG5127 worldG2889 is judgedG2919. 12I haveG2192 yetG2089 many thingsG4183 to sayG3004 to youG5213, butG235 ye cannotG3756 G1410 bear themG941 nowG737. 13ButG1161 whenG3752 heG1565, the SpiritG4151 of truthG225, is comeG2064, he will guideG3594 youG5209 intoG1519 allG3956 the truthG225: forG1063 he shallG2980 notG3756 speakG2980 fromG575 himselfG1438; butG235 whateverG3745 G302 he shall hearG191, that shall he speakG2980: andG2532 he will showG312 youG5213 things to comeG2064. 14HeG1565 shall glorifyG1392 meG1691: forG3754 he shall receiveG2983 ofG1537 mineG1699, andG2532 shall showG312 it to youG5213. 15All thingsG3956 thatG3745 the FatherG3962 hathG2192 areG2076 mineG1699: thereforeG5124 G1223 I saidG2036, thatG3754 he shall takeG2983 ofG1537 mineG1699, andG2532 showG312 it to youG5213. 16A little whileG3397, andG2532 ye shallG2334 notG3756 seeG2334 meG3165: andG2532 againG3825, a little whileG3397, andG2532 ye shall seeG3700 meG3165, becauseG3754 IG1473 goG5217 toG4314 the FatherG3962. 17ThenG3767 saidG2036 some ofG1537 hisG846 disciplesG3101 amongG4314 themselvesG240, WhatG5101 isG2076 thisG5124 thatG3739 he saithG3004 to usG2254, A little whileG3397, andG2532 ye shallG2334 notG3756 seeG2334 meG3165: andG2532 againG3825, a little whileG3397, andG2532 ye shall seeG3700 meG3165: andG2532, BecauseG3754 IG1473 goG5217 toG4314 the FatherG3962? 18They saidG3004 thereforeG3767, WhatG5101 isG2076 thisG5124 thatG3739 he saithG3004, A little whileG3397? we cannotG3756 G1492 tellG1492 whatG5101 he saithG2980. 19NowG3767 JesusG2424 knewG1097 thatG3754 they were desirousG2309 to askG2065 himG846, andG2532 saidG2036 to themG846, Do ye enquireG2212 amongG3326 yourselvesG240 ofG4012 thatG5127 whichG3754 I saidG2036, A little whileG3397, andG2532 ye shallG2334 notG3756 seeG2334 meG3165: andG2532 againG3825, a little whileG3397, andG2532 ye shall seeG3700 meG3165? 20VerilyG281, verilyG281, I sayG3004 to youG5213, ThatG3754 yeG5210 shall weepG2799 andG2532 lamentG2354, butG1161 the worldG2889 shall rejoiceG5463: andG1161 yeG5210 shall be sorrowfulG3076, butG235 yourG5216 sorrowG3077 shall be turnedG1096 intoG1519 joyG5479. 21A womanG1135 whenG3752 she is in travailG5088 hathG2192 sorrowG3077, becauseG3754 herG846 hourG5610 is comeG2064: butG1161 as soon asG3752 she is deliveredG1080 of the childG3813, she rememberethG3421 no moreG3765 the anguishG2347, forG1223 joyG5479 thatG3754 a manG444 is bornG1080 intoG1519 the worldG2889. 22AndG2532 yeG5210 G3303 nowG3568 thereforeG3767 haveG2192 sorrowG3077: butG1161 I will seeG3700 youG5209 againG3825, andG2532 yourG5216 heartG2588 shall rejoiceG5463, andG2532 yourG5216 joyG5479 no manG3762 takethG142 fromG575 youG5216. 23AndG2532 inG1722 thatG1565 dayG2250 ye shallG3756 askG2065 meG1691 nothingG3762. VerilyG281, verilyG281, I sayG3004 to youG3754 G5213, WhateverG3745 G302 ye shall askG154 the FatherG3962 inG1722 myG3450 nameG3686, he will giveG1325 it to youG5213. 24Until nowG2193 G737 ye have askedG154 nothingG3756 G3762 inG1722 myG3450 nameG3686: askG154, andG2532 ye shall receiveG2983, thatG2443 yourG5216 joyG5479 may beG5600 fullG4137. 25These thingsG5023 have I spokenG2980 to youG5213 inG1722 proverbsG3942: butG235 the timeG5610 comethG2064, whenG3753 I shallG2980 no moreG3765 speakG2980 to youG5213 inG1722 proverbsG3942, butG235 I shall showG312 youG5213 plainlyG3954 concerningG4012 the FatherG3962. 26AtG1722 thatG1565 dayG2250 ye shall askG154 inG1722 myG3450 nameG3686: andG2532 I sayG3004 notG3756 to youG5213, thatG3754 IG1473 will prayG2065 the FatherG3962 forG4012 youG5216: 27ForG1063 the FatherG3962 himselfG846 lovethG5368 youG5209, becauseG3754 yeG5210 have lovedG5368 meG1691, andG2532 have believedG4100 thatG3754 IG1473 cameG1831 fromG3844 GodG2316. 28I came forthG1831 fromG3844 the FatherG3962, andG2532 am comeG2064 intoG1519 the worldG2889: againG3825, I leaveG863 the worldG2889, andG2532 goG4198 toG4314 the FatherG3962. 29HisG846 disciplesG3101 saidG3004 to himG846, LoG2396, nowG3568 speakest thouG2980 plainlyG3954, andG2532 speakestG3004 noG3762 proverbG3942. 30NowG3568 are we sureG1492 thatG3754 thou knowestG1492 all thingsG3956, andG2532 needestG5532 notG3756 G2192 thatG2443 any manG5100 should askG2065 theeG4571: byG1722 thisG5129 we believeG4100 thatG3754 thou camestG1831 fromG575 GodG2316. 31JesusG2424 answeredG611 themG846, Do yeG4100 nowG737 believeG4100? 32BeholdG2400, the hourG5610 comethG2064, andG2532, isG2064 even nowG3568 comeG2064, thatG2443 ye shall be scatteredG4650, every manG1538 toG1519 his ownG2398, andG2532 shall leaveG863 meG1691 aloneG3441: and yetG2532 I amG1510 notG3756 aloneG3441, becauseG3754 the FatherG3962 isG2076 withG3326 meG1700. 33These thingsG5023 I have spokenG2980 to youG5213, thatG2443 inG1722 meG1698 ye may haveG2192 peaceG1515. InG1722 the worldG2889 ye shall haveG2192 tribulationG2347: butG235 be of good cheerG2293; IG1473 have overcomeG3528 the worldG2889.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 DISCOURSE AT THE SUPPER TABLE CONCLUDED. (John 16:1-33)
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended--both the warnings and the encouragements just given.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogue-- (
John 9:22;
John 12:42).
the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service--The words mean religious service--"that he is offering a service to God." (So Saul of Tarsus,
Gal 1:13-
Gal 1:14;
Phil 3:6).
4 these things I said not . . . at--from.
the beginning--He had said it pretty early (
Luke 6:22), but not quite as in
John 16:2.
because I was with you.
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me--While He was with them, the world's hatred was directed chiefly against Himself; but His departure would bring it down upon them as His representatives.
and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?--They had done so in a sort (
John 13:36;
John 14:5); but He wished more intelligent and eager inquiry on the subject.
6 But because I have said these things . . . sorrow hath filled your heart--Sorrow had too much paralyzed them, and He would rouse their energies.
7 It is expedient for you that I go away--
My Saviour, can it ever be
That I should gain by losing thee?
KEBLE.
Yes.
for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you--(See on
John 7:39;
John 14:15).
8 And when he is come, he will, &c.--This is one of the passages most pregnant with thought in the profound discourses of Christ; with a few great strokes depicting all and every part of the ministry of the Holy Ghost in the world--His operation with reference to individuals as well as the mass, on believers and unbelievers alike [OLSHAUSEN].
he will reprove--This is too weak a word to express what is meant. Reproof is indeed implied in the term employed, and doubtless the word begins with it. But convict or convince is the thing intended; and as the one expresses the work of the Spirit on the unbelieving portion of mankind, and the other on the believing, it is better not to restrict it to either.
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me--As all sin has its root in unbelief, so the most aggravated form of unbelief is the rejection of Christ. The Spirit, however, in fastening this truth upon the conscience, does not extinguish, but, on the contrary, does consummate and intensify, the sense of all other sins.
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more--Beyond doubt, it is Christ's personal righteousness which the Spirit was to bring home to the sinner's heart. The evidence of this was to lie in the great historical fact, that He had "gone to His Father and was no more visible to men":--for if His claim to be the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, had been a lie, how should the Father, who is "a jealous God," have raised such a blasphemer from the dead and exalted him to His right hand? But if He was the "Faithful and True Witness," the Father's "Righteous Servant," "His Elect, in whom His soul delighted," then was His departure to the Father, and consequent disappearance from the view of men, but the fitting consummation, the august reward, of all that He did here below, the seal of His mission, the glorification of the testimony which He bore on earth, by the reception of its Bearer to the Father's bosom. This triumphant vindication of Christ's rectitude is to us divine evidence, bright as heaven, that He is indeed the Saviour of the world, God's Righteous Servant to justify many, because He bare their iniquities (
Isa 53:11). Thus the Spirit, in this clause, is seen convincing men that there is in Christ perfect relief under the sense of sin of which He had before convinced them; and so far from mourning over His absence from us, as an irreparable loss, we learn to glory in it, as the evidence of His perfect acceptance on our behalf, exclaiming with one who understood this point, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God," &c. (
Rom 8:33-
Rom 8:34).
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged--By supposing that the final judgment is here meant, the point of this clause is, even by good interpreters, quite missed. The statement, "The prince of this world is judged," means, beyond all reasonable doubt, the same as that in
John 12:31, "Now shall the prince of this world be cast out"; and both mean that his dominion over men, or his power to enslave and so to ruin them, is destroyed. The death of Christ "judged" or judicially overthrew him, and he was thereupon "cast out" or expelled from his usurped dominion (
Heb 2:14;
1John 3:8;
Col 2:15). Thus, then, the Spirit shall bring home to men's conscience: (1) the sense of sin, consummated in the rejection of Him who came to "take away the sin of the world"; (2) the sense of perfect relief in the righteousness of the Father's Servant, now fetched from the earth that spurned Him to that bosom where from everlasting He had dwelt; and (3) the sense of emancipation from the fetters of Satan, whose judgment brings to men liberty to be holy, and transformation out of servants of the devil into sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. To one class of men, however, all this will carry conviction only; they "will not come to Christ"--revealed though He be to them as the life-giving One--that they may have life. Such, abiding voluntarily under the dominion of the prince of this world, are judged in his judgment, the visible consummation of which will be at the great day. To another class, however, this blessed teaching will have another issue--translating them out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son.
12 when he, the Spirit of truth, is come . . . he shall not speak of himself--that is, from Himself, but, like Christ Himself, "what He hears," what is given Him to communicate.
he will show you things to come--referring specially to those revelations which, in the Epistles partially, but most fully in the Apocalypse, open up a vista into the Future of the Kingdom of God, whose horizon is the everlasting hills.
14 He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine and show it unto you--Thus the whole design of the Spirit's office is to glorify Christ--not in His own Person, for this was done by the Father when He exalted Him to His own right hand--but in the view and estimation of men. For this purpose He was to "receive of Christ"--all the truth relating to Christ--"and show it unto them," or make them to discern it in its own light. The subjective nature of the Spirit's teaching--the discovery to the souls of men of what is Christ outwardly--is here very clearly expressed; and, at the same time, the vanity of looking for revelations of the Spirit which shall do anything beyond throwing light in the soul upon what Christ Himself is, and taught, and did upon earth.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine--a plainer expression than this of absolute community with the Father in all things cannot be conceived, though the "all things" here have reference to the things of the Kingdom of Grace, which the Spirit was to receive that He might show it to us. We have here a wonderful glimpse into the inner relations of the Godhead.
16 A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father--The joy of the world at their not seeing Him seems to show that His removal from them by death was what He meant; and in that case, their joy at again seeing Him points to their transport at His reappearance amongst them on His Resurrection, when they could no longer doubt His identity. At the same time the sorrow of the widowed Church in the absence of her Lord in the heavens, and her transport at His personal return, are certainly here expressed.
23 In that day--of the dispensation of the Spirit (as in
John 14:20).
ye shall ask--inquire of
me nothing--by reason of the fulness of the Spirit's teaching (
John 14:26;
John 16:13; and compare
1John 2:27).
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name--for "prayer in the name of Christ, and prayer to Christ, presuppose His glorification" [OLSHAUSEN].
ask--when I am gone, "in My name."
25 in proverbs--in obscure language, opposed to "showing plainly"--that is, by the Spirit's teaching.
26 I say not . . . I will pray the Father for you--as if He were not of Himself disposed to aid you: Christ does pray the Father for His people, but not for the purpose of inclining an unwilling ear.
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me--This love of theirs is that which is called forth by God's eternal love in the gift of His Son mirrored in the hearts of those who believe, and resting on His dear Son.
28 I came forth from the Father, &c.--that is, "And ye are right, for I have indeed so come forth,and shall soon return whence I came." This echo of the truth, alluded to in
John 16:27, seems like thinking aloud, as if it were grateful to His own spirit on such a subject and at such an hour.
29 His disciples said, . . . now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb--hardly more so than before; the time for perfect plainness was yet to come; but having caught a glimpse of His meaning (it was nothing more), they eagerly express their satisfaction, as if glad to make anything of His words. How touchingly does this show both the simplicity of their hearts and the infantile character of their faith!
31 Jesus answered . . . Do ye now believe?--that is, "It is well ye do, for it is soon to be tested, and in a way ye little expect."
the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone--A deep and awful sense of wrong experienced is certainly expressed here, but how lovingly! That He was not to be utterly deserted, that there was One who would not forsake Him, was to Him matter of ineffable support and consolation; but that He should be without all human countenance and cheer, who as Man was exquisitely sensitive to the law of sympathy, would fill themselves with as much shame, when they afterwards recurred to it, as the Redeemer's heart in His hour of need with pungent sorrow. "I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none" (
Ps 69:20).
because the Father is with me--how near, and with what sustaining power, who can express?
33 These things I have spoken unto you--not the immediately preceding words, but this whole discourse, of which these were the very last words, and which He thus winds up.
that in me ye might have peace--in the sublime sense before explained. (See on
John 14:27).
In the world ye shall have tribulation--specially arising from its deadly opposition to those who "are not of the world, but chosen out of the world." So that the "peace" promised was far from an unruffled one.
I have overcome the world--not only before you, but for you, that ye may be able to do the same (
1John 5:4-5).
