5. None… asketh… whither In the table discourse (chap. John 14:5-7) they had so asked; but now, as he stands uttering his farewell, and unfolding to them their apparent abandonment to the most limitless persecution, with none but a spiritual Comforter, a Comforter little, now, by them appreciated, they had forgotten all question as to his whither. read more
6. Sorrow hath filled your heart The sorrow was reasonable; but this word filled implied that it was excessive and reprovable. But he goes on to express, with a stronger emphasis, the consolation he had already proffered, namely, the coming of the Comforter. read more
7. I tell you the truth The solemnity of the affirmation arises from the fact that in their present state of mind the information was difficult to believe. Our Lord solemnly assures them that there is no contingency or mistake in the idea that his departure, however sorrowful, was necessary in itself, and best even for them. Expedient for you… go away This pregnant phrase, go away, included all the circumstances the cross, the atonement, the resurrection, and the ascension, with the... read more
The struggle of the Spirit with the world, John 16:7-15. At once as a consolation and as a prophecy of the future dispensation, our Lord now declares that it is expedient FOR THEM, that he should depart. Why? Because the Christian dispensation is, according to God’s plan, to be, not the dispensation of Christ’s bodily presence, but the dispensation of the Spirit. Christ came and gave that dispensation its start; but the Spirit must give it its development, its maturity, its consummation,... read more
8. When he is come This gift is not a mere fluid or emanation shed off from the divine essence or person; it is a He, the essence or person himself. It is not an influence shed from the Spirit, but it is the influencing Spirit. It is not a vapour, but a living Being and Person. The qualities, actions, efficiencies of a living agent are, through the whole passage, ascribed to this Comforter. There is no alternative left but either to pervert the passage, or to acknowledge herein the... read more
9. Sin… believe not on me Not that all sin consists in rejecting Christ; but that the rejection of Christ leaves them in the full possession of all their guilt, and to the full consequences of all their sins. By rejecting Christ they hold on to all sin. read more
10. Righteousness In contrast with the sin of the previous verse. This righteousness, existing first in the person of Christ, is, by his great work, brought into the possession of believers in him. I go to my Father That is, I go through the great work which both evidences my righteousness and wins my right to bestow justification, sanctification, and eternal life on all who believe in me. To my Father To the courts of the invisible God; to be myself an invisible Saviour, to be seen by... read more
11. Of judgment Of scrutiny and of separation between good and evil, to be now begun, continued through future history, and consummated at the Second Advent. Prince See on John 16:8. read more
12. Many things to say… ye cannot bear The wise teacher knows not only how to instruct, but how to withhold instruction that he may instruct in the right order. He will not impose truths upon brains not strong enough to bear them. And some instructions need diagrams, examples, apparatus, or experiments before they can be understood. So these apostles needed that Christ should suffer, rise, and be glorified before they could understand and preach a suffering, risen, and glorified Saviour.... read more
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Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:4
4. These things have I told you Again does the Lord cast back a recapitulating glance in order fully to impress his words upon their memory for future use, both for confirmation of faith and consolation of heart. Said not… at the beginning Commentators of different ages have found it difficult to reconcile this apparent statement of our Lord, that he had not predicted persecutions heretofore, with passages like Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:21-28; Matthew 16:24-25; Matthew 24:9; Luke 6:22,... read more