John 14 - King James Version Bible Commentary

Jn 14:1. Let not your heart be troubled. This is the foundational statement of the entire chapter. To settle the emotions of the disciples, Christ lists the reasons why their hearts should not be troubled (Gr trasso¯, stir up, disturb, throw into confusion). Believe. Both times this Greek verb (pistelio¯) can be interpreted as imperative. Christ stirs both their faith in God and their faith in Him. This settles a troubled heart.

Jn 14:2. The disciples should be comforted with the fact that Christ is going to prepare an abode for them in heaven (my Father’s house).

Jn 14:3-4. I will come again. This is the promise that brings hope to troubled hearts. The emphasis of His coming is not on the dwelling places but on the prospect of being with the Saviour (Gr pros; lit., face to face). The way to heaven is through Christ Himself.

Jn 14:5. Overwhelmed with grief at the prospect of Christ’s leaving, Thomas does not understand the meaning of Christ’s statement. Thomas objects that since he does not know where Christ is going, how could he possibly know the way to get there?

Jn 14:6. Christ answers with another I am statement. The way. Christ is the only way to heaven (Jn 10:9). The truth. Christ is the embodiment of all truth (Jn 8:32). Life (Jn 1:4; Jn 3:16). No man can approach the Father unless he does so through Christ.

Jn 14:7. From henceforth ye know him. To know Christ is to know the Father. The disciples knew Christ; therefore, they knew the Father.

Jn 14:8. Philip asks for a theophany (manifestation of God’s glory) similar to Moses’ (Ex 33:18-23).

Jn 14:9. So long time with you. Christ had stated this truth about seeing the Father through the Son throughout His ministry (Jn 1:18; Jn 10:30).

Jn 14:10. The words and works of Christ surely must indicate a unique relationship between the Father and the Son.

Jn 14:11. The disciples were weak in their faith. Christ exhorts them to Believe what He has said, or simply to believe on the basis of His works.

Jn 14:12. What a promise this is. Greater works. The works of Christ were limited to a small geographical area and to a specific people. The disciples’ works would be worldwide in their reach and would affect all people. In this way, they were greater. Christ’s going away would cause Him to send the Holy Spirit.

Jn 14:13-14. Note the relationship of works to prayer (Acts 1:14; Ac 2:42; Ac 3:1; Ac 4:31). Effective prayer is in my name. This is prayer in agreement with the desires of Christ. The result of prayer is the glorification of the Father, not self-glorification.

Jn 14:15. Love is not sentimental emotionalism; it is obedience to the commandments of God.

Jn 14:16. Comforter (Gr parakle¯tos, one called alongside to help). Christ would pray the Father, and they would receive a Helper. Another (Gr allos, another of the same kind). This would indicate that the Comforter would be of the same quality and character as Christ. The Comforter would be God. For ever. Christ would go away (Jn 14:2), but the Helper would remain for ever.

Jn 14:17. Spirit of truth. The Helper is the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13). The world cannot receive the Spirit. This Spirit would have a twofold ministry. He would dwell with them (be in their midst), and He would be in them (dwell within).

Jn 14:18. Comfortless (Gr orphanos, lit., I will not leave you as orphans). I will come. Christ would be with them through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Jn 14:19. Very soon the world that hated Him would no longer be able to see Him. The disciples would see Him. They would see Him because they were spiritually alive, and the Holy Spirit would glorify Christ to them (Jn 16:14).

Jn 14:20. At that day. In the day of the dispensation of the Holy Spirit they would recognize the relationship between the Father and the Son and themselves: Christ in the Father, the disciples in Christ, and Christ in the disciples.

Jn 14:21. True love is demonstrated by obedience to the Lord’s commandments. This love and obedience to Christ will cause the Father to love them. Christ too will love those who obey, and will reveal Himself to them through the Spirit and the Word.

Jn 14:22. Judas is thinking of Christ’s revealing Himself to the world as the Messiah and cannot understand this limited revelation.

Jn 14:23-24. The answer of Christ is based on obedience. The Father and the Son will come only to those who love and prove their love by obedience. Abode. Through the Spirit, both the Father and the Son will make their home in the believer. Disobedience to the Word of Christ is also rejection of the Father’s Word.

Jn 14:25-26. Christ had spoken These things while He was with the disciples, but the Holy Ghost would teach them all things. The Spirit would also cause them to remember the things that Christ had told them. The ultimate fulfillment of this promise is the completion of the canon of the New Testament.

Jn 14:27. Peace. In the hour of sorrow for the disciples, Christ promised a unique kind of peace that is different from the world’s peace: My peace. This peace would calm troubled and fearful hearts.

Jn 14:28-29. True love would cause the disciples to rejoice because Christ was going away. This departure would bring glory to Christ and would enable the Holy Spirit to come. Christ foretold these events so that when they happened they would increase the faith of the disciples.

Jn 14:30. Christ would not continue to teach them. The prince of this world cometh. Satan, through the behavior of Judas, was coming. Hath nothing in me. Christ is the sinless Son of God, and Satan had no part in Him.

Jn 14:31. Christ will not resist those who come to kill Him. In obedience to the Father’s commandment, He is ready and willing to die. Arise, let us go hence. The hour for which Jesus came had arrived. He must now go to the cross, and He is ready. He voluntarily goes forward to meet His death.

C. Christ as the True Vine.John 15:1-16:33

Although there is a difference of opinion among commentators over the meaning of all that is discussed in this chapter, there is one basic truth upon which all agree. The basic truth of this chapter is that just as the branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, Christians cannot bear fruit unless they have an abiding relationship with the True Vine, Jesus Christ.