Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
John Ch.16 / 21 Ch.s
JOH:16
* Persecution foretold. (1-6) The promise of the Holy Spirit,
and his office. (7-15) Christ's departure and return. (16-22)
Encouragement to prayer. (23-27) Christ's discoveries of
himself. (28-33)
#1-6 Our Lord Jesus, by giving his disciples notice of trouble,
designed that the terror might not be a surprise to them. It is
possible for those who are real enemies to God's service, to
pretend zeal for it. This does not lessen the sin of the
persecutors; villanies will never be changed by putting the name
of God to them. As Jesus in his sufferings, so his followers in
theirs, should look to the fulfilling of Scripture. He did not
tell them sooner, because he was with them to teach, guide, and
comfort them; they needed not then this promise of the Holy
Spirit's presence. It will silence us to ask, Whence troubles
come? It will satisfy us to ask, Whither go they? for we know
they work for good. It is the common fault and folly of
melancholy Christians to look only on the dark side of the
cloud, and to turn a deaf ear to the voice of joy and gladness.
That which filled the disciples' hearts with sorrow, was too
great affection for this present life. Nothing more hinders our
joy in God, than the love of the world, and the sorrow of the
world which comes from it.
#7-15 Christ's departure was necessary to the Comforter's
coming. Sending the Spirit was to be the fruit of Christ's
death, which was his going away. His bodily presence could be
only in one place at one time, but his Spirit is every where, in
all places, at all times, wherever two or three are gathered
together in his name. See here the office of the Spirit, first
to reprove, or to convince. Convincing work is the Spirit's
work; he can do it effectually, and none but he. It is the
method the Holy Spirit takes, first to convince, and then to
comfort. The Spirit shall convince the world, of sin; not merely
tell them of it. The Spirit convinces of the fact of sin; of the
fault of sin; of the folly of sin; of the filth of sin, that by
it we are become hateful to God; of the fountain of sin, the
corrupt nature; and lastly, of the fruit of sin, that the end
thereof is death. The Holy Spirit proves that all the world is
guilty before God. He convinces the world of righteousness; that
Jesus of Nazareth was Christ the righteous. Also, of Christ's
righteousness, imparted to us for justification and salvation.
He will show them where it is to be had, and how they may be
accepted as righteous in God's sight. Christ's ascension proves
the ransom was accepted, and the righteousness finished, through
which believers were to be justified. Of judgment, because the
prince of this world is judged. All will be well, when his power
is broken, who made all the mischief. As Satan is subdued by
Christ, this gives us confidence, for no other power can stand
before him. And of the day of judgment. The coming of the Spirit
would be of unspeakable advantage to the disciples. The Holy
Spirit is our Guide, not only to show us the way, but to go with
us by continued aids and influences. To be led into a truth is
more than barely to know it; it is not only to have the notion
of it in our heads, but the relish, and savour, and power of it
in our hearts. He shall teach all truth, and keep back nothing
profitable, for he will show things to come. All the gifts and
graces of the Spirit, all the preaching, and all the writing of
the apostles, under the influence of the Spirit, all the
tongues, and miracles, were to glorify Christ. It behoves every
one to ask, whether the Holy Spirit has begun a good work in his
heart? Without clear discovery of our guilt and danger, we never
shall understand the value of Christ's salvation; but when
brought to know ourselves aright, we begin to see the value of
the Redeemer. We should have fuller views of the Redeemer, and
more lively affections to him, if we more prayed for, and
depended on the Holy Spirit.
#16-22 It is good to consider how near our seasons of grace are
to an end, that we may be quickened to improve them. But the
sorrows of the disciples would soon be turned into joy; as those
of a mother, at the sight of her infant. The Holy Spirit would
be their Comforter, and neither men nor devils, neither
sufferings in life nor in death, would ever deprive them of
their joy. Believers have joy or sorrow, according to their
sight of Christ, and the tokens of his presence. Sorrow is
coming on the ungodly, which nothing can lessen; the believer is
an heir to joy which no one can take away. Where now is the joy
of the murderers of our Lord, and the sorrow of his friends?
#23-27 Asking of the Father shows a sense of spiritual wants,
and a desire of spiritual blessings, with conviction that they
are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name, is
acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God,
and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our
Righteousness. Our Lord had hitherto spoken in short and weighty
sentences, or in parables, the import of which the disciples did
not fully understand, but after his resurrection he intended
plainly to teach them such things as related to the Father and
the way to him, through his intercession. And the frequency with
which our Lord enforces offering up petitions in his name, shows
that the great end of the mediation of Christ is to impress us
with a deep sense of our sinfulness, and of the merit and power
of his death, whereby we have access to God. And let us ever
remember, that to address the Father in the name of Christ, or
to address the Son as God dwelling in human nature, and
reconciling the world to himself, are the same, as the Father
and Son are one.
#28-33 Here is a plain declaration of Christ's coming from the
Father, and his return to him. The Redeemer, in his entrance,
was God manifest in the flesh, and in his departure was received
up into glory. By this saying the disciples improved in
knowledge. Also in faith; "Now are we sure." Alas! they knew not
their own weakness. The Divine nature did not desert the human
nature, but supported it, and put comfort and value into
Christ's sufferings. And while we have God's favourable
presence, we are happy, and ought to be easy, though all the
world forsake us. Peace in Christ is the only true peace, in him
alone believers have it. Through him we have peace with God, and
so in him we have peace in our own minds. We ought to be
encouraged, because Christ has overcome the world before us. But
while we think we stand, let us take heed lest we fall. We know
not how we should act if brought into temptation; let us watch
and pray without ceasing, that we may not be left to ourselves.