1._These things I have spoken to you. _He again states that none of _those things which he has spoken _are superfluous; for, since wars and contests await them, it is necessary that they should be provided beforehand with the necessary arms. Yet he also means that, if they meditate deeply on this do... [ Continue Reading ]
2._They will drive you out of the synagogues. _This was no light offense to disturb their minds, that they were to be banished like wicked men from the assembly of the godly, or, at least, of those who boasted that they were the people of God, and gloried in the title of _The Church_; for believers... [ Continue Reading ]
3._And they will do these things. _Not without good reason does Christ frequently remind the apostles of this consideration, that there is only one reason why unbelievers are so greatly enraged against them. It is, because they do not know God. And yet this is not said for the purpose of extenuating... [ Continue Reading ]
4._That when the hour cometh, you may remember. _He repeats what he had already said, that this is not a philosophy fitted only for a season of leisure, but that it is adapted to practice and use, and that he now discourses on these matters, that they may actually demonstrate that they have not been... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And now I go to him who sent me. _By a very excellent consolation he assuages the grief which they might feel on account of his departure, and this was highly necessary. They who had hitherto been allowed to remain at their ease, were called to severe and arduous battles for the future. What then... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Yet I tell you the truth. _That they may no longer wish to have him present before their eyes, he testifies that his absence will be advantageous, and makes use of a sort of oath; for we are carnal, and consequently nothing is more difficult than to tear from our minds this foolish inclination, b... [ Continue Reading ]
8._And when he is come. _Passing by the diversity of expositions, which we have received in consequence of the obscurity of the passage, I shall only state what appears to me to be in accordance with Christ’s true meaning. He had promised his _Spirit _to the disciples; and now he praises the excelle... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Of sin. _It now remains that we see what it is to _convince of sin _Christ appears to make unbelief the only cause _of sin_, and this is tortured by commentators in various ways; but, as I have already said, I do not intend to detail the opinions which have been held and advanced. First, it ought... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Of righteousness. _We must attend to the succession of steps which Christ lays down. He now says that _the world _must be _convinced of righteousness_; for men will never hunger and thirst for _righteousness_, but, on the contrary, will disdainfully reject all that is said concerning it, if they... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Of judgment. _Those who understand the word ( κρίσεως) _judgment _as signifying _condemnation_, have some argument on their side; for Christ immediately adds, that _the prince of this world hath been judged _But I prefer a different opinion, namely, that, the light of the Gospel having been kind... [ Continue Reading ]
12._I have still many things to say to you. _Christ’s discourse could not have so much influence over his disciples, as to prevent their ignorance from still keeping them in perplexity about _many things_; and not only so, but they scarcely obtained a slight taste of those things which ought to have... [ Continue Reading ]
13._But when he is come, the Spirit of truth. The Spirit_, whom Christ promised to the apostles, is declared to be perfect Master or Teacher (96) _of truth _And why was he promised, but that they might deliver from hand to hand the wisdom which they had received from him? _The Spirit _was given to t... [ Continue Reading ]
14._He will glorify me _Christ now reminds them that the Spirit will not come to erect any new kingdom, but rather to confirm the glory which has been given to him by the Father. For many foolishly imagine that Christ taught only so as to lay down the first lessons, and then to send the disciples to... [ Continue Reading ]
15._All things that the Father hath are mine. _As it might be thought that Christ took away from the Father what he claimed for himself, he acknowledges that he has received from the Father all that he communicates to us by the Spirit. When he says that all things that the Father hath are his, he sp... [ Continue Reading ]
16._A little while, and you do not see me. _Christ had often forewarned the apostles of his departure, partly that they might bear it with greater courage, partly that they might desire more ardently the grace of the Spirit, of which they had no great desire, so long as they had Christ present with... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Jesus, therefore, knew that they wished to ask him. _Though sometimes the Lord appears to speak to the deaf, he, at length, cures the ignorance of his disciples, that his instruction may not be useless. Our duty is to endeavor that our slowness of apprehension may not be accompanied by either pr... [ Continue Reading ]
20._You will weep and lament. _He shows for what reason he foretold that his departure was at hand, and, at the same time, added a promise about his speedy return. It was, that they might understand better that the aid of the Spirit was highly necessary. “Ahard and severe temptation,” says he, “_awa... [ Continue Reading ]
21._A woman, when she is in labor. _He employs a comparison to confirm the statement which he had just now made, or rather, he expresses his meaning more clearly, that not only will _their sorrow be turned into joy_, but also that it contains in itself the ground and occasion of_joy _It frequently h... [ Continue Reading ]
22._Your joy no man shall take from you. _The value of _the joy _is greatly enhanced by its perpetuity; for it follows that the afflictions are light, and ought to be patiently endured, because they are of short duration. By these words Christ reminds us what is the nature of true _joy _The world mu... [ Continue Reading ]
23._And in that day you will ask me nothing. _After having promised to the disciples that they would derive_joy _from their unshaken firmness and courage, he now speaks of another grace of the Spirit which would be given to them, that they would receive so great light of understanding as would raise... [ Continue Reading ]
24._Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name. _It is probable that the apostles kept the rule of prayer which had been laid down in the Law. Now we know that the fathers were not accustomed to pray without a Mediator; for God had trained them, by so many exercises, to such a form of prayer. They s... [ Continue Reading ]
25._These things I have spoken to you in proverbs. _The intention of Christ is to give courage to his disciples, that, entertaining good hopes of making better progress, they may not think that the instruction to which they now listen is useless, though there be but little of it that they comprehend... [ Continue Reading ]
26._In that day you shall ask in my name. _He again repeats the reason why the heavenly treasures were then to be so bountifully opened up. It is, because _they ask in the name of Christ _whatever they need, and God will refuse nothing that shall be asked _in the name _of his Son. But there appears... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Because you have loved me. _These words remind us that the only bond of our union with God is, to be united to Christ; and we are united to him by a faith which is not reigned, but which springs from sincere affection, which he describes by the name of _love_; for no man believes purely in Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
28._I came out from the Father. _This mode of expression draws our attention to the Divine power which is in Christ. Our faith in him would not be steady, if it did not perceive his Divine power; for his death and resurrection, the two pillars of faith, would be of little avail to us, if heavenly po... [ Continue Reading ]
29._His disciples say to him. _This shows how great was the efficacy of, that consolation, for it suddenly brought into a state of great cheerfulness those minds which formerly were broken and cast down. And yet it is certain that _the disciples _did not yet understand fully the meaning of Christ’s... [ Continue Reading ]
31._Do you now believe? _As the disciples were too highly pleased with themselves, Christ reminds them that, remembering their weakness, they ought rather to confine themselves within their own little capacity. Now, we never are fully aware of what we want, and of our great distance from the fullnes... [ Continue Reading ]
32._Yet I am not alone. _This correction is added, in order to inform us that, when Christ is forsaken by men, he loses nothing of his dignity. For since his truth and his glory are founded on himself, and. do not depend on what the world believes, if it happen that he is forsaken by the whole world... [ Continue Reading ]
33._These things I have spoken to you. _He again repeats how necessary those consolations are which he had addressed to them; and he proves it by this argument, that numerous distresses and _tribulations _await them in _the world. _We ought to attend, first, to this admonition, that all believers ou... [ Continue Reading ]