Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
John Ch.14 / 21 Ch.s
JOH:14
* Christ comforts his disciples. (1-11) He further comforts his
disciples. (12-17) He still further comforts his disciples.
(18-31)
#1-11 Here are three words, upon any of which stress may be
laid. Upon the word troubled. Be not cast down and disquieted.
The word heart. Let your heart be kept with full trust in God.
The word your. However others are overwhelmed with the sorrows
of this present time, be not you so. Christ's disciples, more
than others, should keep their minds quiet, when everything else
is unquiet. Here is the remedy against this trouble of mind,
"Believe." By believing in Christ as the Mediator between God
and man, we gain comfort. The happiness of heaven is spoken of
as in a father's house. There are many mansions, for there are
many sons to be brought to glory. Mansions are lasting
dwellings. Christ will be the Finisher of that of which he is
the Author or Beginner; if he have prepared the place for us, he
will prepare us for it. Christ is the sinner's Way to the Father
and to heaven, in his person as God manifest in the flesh, in
his atoning sacrifice, and as our Advocate. He is the Truth, as
fulfilling all the prophecies of a Saviour; believing which,
sinners come by him the Way. He is the Life, by whose
life-giving Spirit the dead in sin are quickened. Nor can any
man draw nigh God as a Father, who is not quickened by Him as
the Life, and taught by Him as the Truth, to come by Him as the
Way. By Christ, as the Way, our prayers go to God, and his
blessings come to us; this is the Way that leads to rest, the
good old Way. He is the Resurrection and the Life. All that saw
Christ by faith, saw the Father in Him. In the light of Christ's
doctrine, they saw God as the Father of lights; and in Christ's
miracles, they saw God as the God of power. The holiness of God
shone in the spotless purity of Christ's life. We are to believe
the revelation of God to man in Christ; for the works of the
Redeemer show forth his own glory, and God in him.
#12-17 Whatever we ask in Christ's name, that shall be for our
good, and suitable to our state, he shall give it to us. To ask
in Christ's name, is to plead his merit and intercession, and to
depend upon that plea. The gift of the Spirit is a fruit of
Christ's mediation, bought by his merit, and received by his
intercession. The word used here, signifies an advocate,
counsellor, monitor, and comforter. He would abide with the
disciples to the end of time; his gifts and graces would
encourage their hearts. The expressions used here and elsewhere,
plainly denote a person, and the office itself includes all the
Divine perfections. The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon
the disciples of Christ, and not on the world. This is the
favour God bears to his chosen. As the source of holiness and
happiness, the Holy Spirit will abide with every believer for
ever.
#18-24 Christ promises that he would continue his care of his
disciples. I will not leave you orphans, or fatherless, for
though I leave you, yet I leave you this comfort, I will come to
you. I will come speedily to you at my resurrection. I will come
daily to you in my Spirit; in the tokens of his love, and visits
of his grace. I will come certainly at the end of time. Those
only that see Christ with an eye of faith, shall see him for
ever: the world sees him no more till his second coming; but his
disciples have communion with him in his absence. These
mysteries will be fully known in heaven. It is a further act of
grace, that they should know it, and have the comfort of it.
Having Christ's commands, we must keep them. And having them in
our heads, we must keep them in our hearts and lives. The surest
evidence of our love to Christ is, obedience to the laws of
Christ. There are spiritual tokens of Christ and his love given
to all believers. Where sincere love to Christ is in the heart,
there will be obedience. Love will be a commanding, constraining
principle; and where love is, duty follows from a principle of
gratitude. God will not only love obedient believers, but he
will take pleasure in loving them, will rest in love to them. He
will be with them as his home. These privileges are confined to
those whose faith worketh by love, and whose love to Jesus leads
them to keep his commandments. Such are partakers of the Holy
Spirit's new-creating grace.
#25-27 Would we know these things for our good, we must pray
for, and depend on the teaching of the Holy Ghost; thus the
words of Jesus will be brought to our remembrance, and many
difficulties be cleared up which are not plain to others. To all
the saints, the Spirit of grace is given to be a remembrancer,
and to him, by faith and prayer, we should commit the keeping of
what we hear and know. Peace is put for all good, and Christ has
left us all that is really and truly good, all the promised
good; peace of mind from our justification before God. This
Christ calls his peace, for he is himself our Peace. The peace
of God widely differs from that of Pharisees or hypocrites, as
is shown by its humbling and holy effects.
#28-31 Christ raises the expectations of his disciples to
something beyond what they thought was their greatest happiness.
His time was now short, he therefore spake largely to them. When
we come to be sick, and to die, we may not be capable of talking
much to those about us; such good counsel as we have to give,
let us give while in health. Observe the prospect Christ had of
an approaching conflict, not only with men, but with the powers
of darkness. Satan has something in us to perplex us with, for
we have all sinned; but when he would disturb Christ, he found
nothing sinful to help him. The best evidence of our love to the
Father is, our doing as he has commanded us. Let us rejoice in
the Saviour's victories over Satan the prince of this world. Let
us copy the example of his love and obedience.