[1] “These things I have spoken to
you, that you should not be made to stumble. [2] “They will put you
out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you
will think that he offers God service. [3] “And these things they will
do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. [4] “But
these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember
that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the
beginning, because I was with you.
[5] “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of
you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' [6] “But because I have said these
things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. [7] “Nevertheless I tell
you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not
go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send
Him to you. [8] “And when He has come, He will convict the world of
sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] “of sin, because they
do not believe in Me; [10] “of righteousness, because I go to My
Father and you see Me no more;
What do those facts mean?:
(Verse 1) - These things-The things
spoken in the two previous chapters, promising them divine aid and
directing them in the path of duty.
Be offended - The word offend means here the same as
to stumble or fall - that is, to apostatize. He proceeds immediately to
tell them, what he had often apprised them of, that they would be subject
to great persecutions and trials. He was also himself about to be removed
by death. They were to go into an unfriendly world. All these things were
in themselves greatly fitted to shake their faith, and to expose them to
the danger of apostasy. Compare Luke 24:21. If they had not been apprised
of this, if they had not known why Jesus was about to die, and if they had
not been encouraged with the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, they would
have sunk under these trials, and forsaken him and his cause. And we may
learn:
1. that
if Christians were left to themselves they would fall away and perish.
2. that
God affords means and helps beforehand to keep them in the path of duty.
3. that
the instructions of the Bible and the help of the Holy Spirit are all
granted to keep them from apostasy.
4. that
Jesus beforehand secured the fidelity and made certain the continuance in
faith of his apostles, seeing all their dangers and knowing all their
enemies. And, in like manner, we should be persuaded that “he is able to
keep that which we commit to him against that day,” 2 Tim. 1:12.
(Verse 2) - Out of the synagogues - They
would excommunicate them from their religious assemblies. This was often
done. Compare Acts 6:13-14; 9:23-24; 17:5; 21:27-31.
Whosoever killeth you-This refers principally to the
Jews. It is also true of the Gentiles, that in their persecution of
Christians they supposed they were rendering acceptable service to their
gods.
God's service-The Jews who persecuted the apostles
regarded them as blasphemers, and as seeking to overthrow the temple
service, and the system of religion which God had established. Thus, they
supposed they were rendering service to God in putting. them to death,
Acts 6:13-14; 21:28-31. Sinners, especially hypocrites, often cloak
enormous crimes under the pretence of great zeal for religion. Men often
suppose, or profess to suppose, that they are rendering God service when
they persecute others; and, under the pretence of great zeal for truth and
purity, evince all possible bigotry, pride, malice, and uncharitableness.
The people of God have suffered most from those who have been
conscientious persecutors; and some of the most malignant foes which true
Christians have ever had have been in the church, and have been professed
ministers of the gospel, persecuting them under pretence of great zeal for
the cause of purity and religion. It is no evidence of piety that a man is
full of zeal against those whom he supposes to be heretics; and it is one
of the best proofs that a man knows nothing of the religion of Jesus when
he is eminent for self-conceit in his own views of orthodoxy, and firmly
fixed in the opinion that all who differ from him and his sect must of
course be wrong.
(Verse 3) - They will not believe that God has
sent me. They do not so understand his character, his justice, or his law,
as to see that it was fit that he should send his Son to die. They are so
opposed to it, so filled with pride and opposition to a plan of salvation
that is so humbling to people, as to be resolved not to believe it, and
thus they persecute me, and will also you.
(Verse 4) - These things-These things
which are about to happen, John 16:1-2. He had foretold them that they
would take place.
Ye may remember …-By calling to mind that he had
foretold these things they would perceive that he was omniscient, and
would remember, also, the consolations which he had afforded them and the
instructions which he had given them. Had these calamities come upon them
without their having been foretold, their faith might have failed; they
might have been tempted to suppose that Jesus was not aware of them, and
of course that he was not the Messiah. God does not suffer his people to
fall into trials without giving them sufficient warning, and without
giving all the grace that is needful to bear them.
At the beginning-In the early part of the ministry of
Jesus. The expression these things here refers, probably, to all the
topics contained in these chapters. He had, in the early part of his
ministry, forewarned them of calamities and persecutions Matt. 10:16;
5:10-12; 9:15, but he had not so fully acquainted them with the nature,
and design, and sources of their trials; he had not so fully apprised them
of the fact, the circumstances, and the object of his death and of his
ascension to heaven; he had not revealed to them so clearly that the Holy
Spirit would descend, and sanctify, and guide them; and especially he had
not, in one continued discourse, grouped all these things together, and
placed their sorrows and consolations so fully before their minds. All
these are included, it is supposed, in the expression “these things.”
Because I was with you-This
is the reason which he gives why he had not at first made known to them
clearly the certainty of their calamities and their joys; and it implies:
1. that
it was not needful to do it at once, as he was to be with them for more
than three years, and could have abundant opportunity gradually to teach
these things, and to prepare them for the more full announcement when he
was about to leave them.
2.
