John 16 - The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible

16:1–4 See note at 15:18—16:4. Christians need to fortify themselves against their trials by realizing that excommunication and even death may be in their path in the time to come. Those who do not know God by faith in Christ can be so fanatically deceived that they imagine it to be their duty to murder Christians. offended. stumble.

16:5 Whither. Where, to what place.

16:7 Christ comforted them with the assurance that His going to glory would be to their advantage (expedient) since He would send the Holy Spirit (Comforter; 14:16) to come to them. if I depart. The Spirit would not come in His fullness until Christ was glorified at God’s right hand (7:39; 13:31; Acts 2:32–33). I will send him. Jesus had earlier stated that the Father would send the Spirit (14:26), but Christ also says that He Himself sends the Spirit (15:26), another indication of order in the relationships in the Trinity: the Father is the first person, the Son the second (5:19), and the Spirit the third, though all are equally God.

16:8–11 Jesus here gives a description of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to unbelievers (the world ). reprove. Convict of wrong action or belief (3:20; 8:9,46; Titus 1:9). The Spirit reveals to men three fundamental truths: (1) their violation of God’s Word (sin), which will damn them if they believe not in Christ (3:36; 5:45–46); (2) the perfect righteousness of the exalted Christ (I go to my Father), for they have rejected the only One who can save them; and (3) Christ’s victory over Satan ( prince of this world is judged; 12:31–32), which anticipates His judgment of all sinners (the world ). This effect of the Spirit is evidenced by the apostles’ preaching at Pentecost and later on by causing people to seriously consider the Word even though they had not yet been converted (Acts 2:37; 16:30; 24:25).

16:12 many things to say. Christ would continue His teaching through the apostles by the Spirit after His resurrection (Acts 1:1–3) and ascension (Eph. 3:5; 4:8–11), when His Spirit would give them greater spiritual illumination (v. 13; Luke 24:45).

16:13–15 Howbeit. But. Spirit of truth. See note at 14:17. guide you. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the full revelation of God’s will for His church (all truth), which is now recorded in the New Testament (14:26; 1 Cor. 2:9–13; Eph. 3:3,5,8), and continues to assist the church in understanding and applying the Holy Scriptures (Eph. 1:17). not speak of himself . . . take of mine, and shall shew it. The Holy Spirit does not work independently of the Father (like the Son, 12:49) but continues the Son’s mission by revealing Him (glorify me), which is also to reveal the Father’s glory (All things that the Father hath) in the Son (13:31–32; 17:1). This too reveals the unity and order of the persons in the Trinity (v. 7).

16:16 not see me . . . ye shall see me. A few short hours from this point Jesus would be dead and in the grave; three days after that He would be visibly with them once again for a time.

16:20 Verily, verily. Truly (see note at 1:51). Jesus explains by saying that at His crucifixion and death ungodly men would rejoice but that His own people would be deeply sorrowful; at His resurrection and ascension there would be a reversal of these emotions.

16:21 travail. Labor pains. delivered of the child. Has given birth.

16:23 in that day . . . ask me nothing. After the Spirit came at Pentecost they would understand the work of redemption. ask . . . in my name. See note at 14:13–14.

16:24 Hitherto. Until now.

16:25 proverbs. Sayings difficult to understand. the time cometh. The new covenant would bring more clarity of truth than the old covenant.

16:26 I say not . . . I will pray. Christ would continue to pray for them (14:16), but He meant that they would have personal access to the Father (Rom. 8:15; Eph. 2:18).

16:27 loveth you, because. Another example of God’s love based on His delight in obedience to His commands, (14:21), not the love of His free grace that precedes all our love for Christ (3:16).

16:29 Lo. An interjection similar to “behold!”

16:32 ye shall be scattered. Though the disciples believed truly in Christ, they would, through fear of persecution (10:12), abandon Him in the moment of His need (13:38), as the Scriptures had prophesied (Zech. 13:7).

16:33 tribulation. Trouble, distress. be of good cheer. Have courage.

Thoughts for Personal/Family Worship: Chapter 16

1. Not only are men and women perishing in their sins under the wrath of God and unable and unwilling to come to Christ, but they are strangely unaware of their desperate condition. The Spirit must awaken them to their guilt before God; the perfection of the Savior, Jesus Christ; and the reality that God’s judgment on this wicked world has already begun in Christ’s victory over Satan (vv. 7–11). How should this truth motivate and guide us in praying for the Spirit’s help in our evangelism?
2. The Spirit is the Teacher of the church, bringing to us the glories of Christ so that we may see that all the fullness of the Father is in Christ for our benefit (vv. 12–15). How often do you pray for the work of the Spirit in the church of Christ? How can you be more fervent in your prayers for the Holy Spirit?
3. The Christian’s life is a strange paradox in this world, a puzzling mixture of distress and peace, fear and courage (vv. 32–33). Why is this so? How can we grow in peace and courage by pleading the promise “I have overcome the world”?