John 16:2-3 - Exposition

They (used impersonally, as the German man , or the French ou ) shall make you excommunicate — ἀποσυναγώγους "put you out of the synagogue," expel you from the fellowship of your country's worship (cf. John 9:22 and John 12:42 )— nay, further (the ἀλλὰ abruptly introduces a very much stronger assertion) an hour cometh, that — ἵνα is here, by Meyer and many others, said to involve a Divine order, purpose, or destiny, intended by the drawing on of the foreordained crisis; but it seems enough to convey by it the contemplated result— whosoever killeth you will deem that he is offering service —sacrificial homage—to God ( προσφέρειν ; both these words are persistently used with this meaning. See, for προσφέρειν , Matthew 5:23 ; Matthew 8:4 ; Acts 7:42 ; Hebrews 5:1 ). The well-known quotation from 'Bammidbar Rabba,' fol. 329. 1, "Every one shedding the blood of the wicked is equal to him who offers sacrifice," may throw light on the expression. The intensity of the fanaticism was well exhibited in the persecution in which Stephen fell, and which St. Paul deemed worthy service, and one which he ought to have rendered ( Acts 26:9 ; Galatians 1:13 , Galatians 1:14 ). The curse was long and deep and tragic, and Christ explains it by the awful reiteration, These things will they do £ because they have not known the Father, nor me (see John 15:22 , etc.). He reiterates the explanation already given of the manner and form as well as the fact of the world's hatred.