Bible Commentaries
John 14

Verse 1

Be troubled ; a season of great trial was just before them. But in passing through it, they must not lose their confidence in God or in him. Trust in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ his Son, is the great safeguard against troubles, and the all-sufficient support under them.

Verse 2

In my Father’s house ; in heaven.

Many mansions ; dwelling-places.

I go to prepare a place for you ; this going was begun by the Saviour’s death-after which he never abode permanently with his disciples-and completed at his ascension. His death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, were all parts of the one act of going to the Father to prepare a place for his followers.

Verse 3

Come again ; the perfect fulfilment of this promise will be at Christ’s second coming, when the bodies of believers, being raised in glory, will be reunited with their spirits, and they received by Christ to the everlasting mansions prepared for them in heaven. But it has also a previous blessed fulfilment to the spirit of each true Christian when he leaves this world. Luke 16:22 ; Luke 23:43 ; 2 Corinthians 5:8 ; Revelation 14:13 .

Verse 4

Wither I go ; to the Father.

The way ye know ; to the Saviour the way was by death upon the cross, as he had often foretold his disciples. Compare note to verse John 14:3 . To the disciples, the way was by faith in him, yet so that they too must follow him through death to the glory of heaven. Compare chap. John 13:36 .

Verse 6

I am the way ; to God’s presence.

The truth ; the author and revealer of truth.

The life ; the author and giver of life, natural and spiritual. There is no way of access to the Father but through his Son Jesus Christ. Those, therefore, who willfully reject him, have no scriptural communion with God.

Verse 7

Known my Father ; the reason of this is, their oneness; he being the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his person. Chapter John 10:30 ; Hebrews 1:3 .

From henceforth ye know him ; from this time onward begins your more perfect knowledge through me of the Father. It was in connection with the removal from the disciples of his personal presence, which was now just at hand, that the Comforter should be sent to teach them of Christ and the Father.

Verse 8

Show us the Father ; he meant an outward showing.

Verse 10

Not of myself ; not independently of, or in opposition to the Father, but from him; so that in me the Father himself speaks to you.

He doeth the works ; he gives them to me to do, chap John 5:36 , and he is so present in me that my working is his working.

Verse 12

Greater ; greater in number, extent, and influence, by Christ’s power, and under the influence of the Spirit, which, after his ascension to heaven, he would give them. Mark 16:20 ; Acts 2:41 . Faith in Jesus Christ is the means not only of justification and acceptance with God, but also of distinguished usefulness among men.

Verse 13

In my name ; in dependence on, and for the purpose of honoring him.

Verse 14

Any thing ; in accordance with his will, and which would be needful for the work to which he called them.

Verse 16

Another , Comforter ; another than myself, one who shall make good to you the loss of my personal presence. This is the first time that the word "Comforter" is applied, in the Scriptures, to the Holy Ghost. The Greek word, which occurs only in writings of John, means both advocate-as it is rendered in 1 John 2:1 , where it is applied to Christ-and Comforter. The Holy Spirit is the Counsellor and Guide, as well as the Comforter of God’s people.

Verse 17

The Spirit of truth ; the Holy Spirit, who reveals the truth, and works in men to will and to do in obeying it.

The world ; men who seek earthly things as their chief good.

Seeth him not ; they have no spiritual view of him, do not feel their need of him, or seek his aid.

In you ; to enlighten their minds, purify their hearts, show them what they should do, and enable them to do it.

Verse 18

Comfortless ; literally, orphans, bereft of my presence, as children of the presence of their father.

Come to you ; spiritually, through the Comforter.

Verse 19

Seeth me no more ; that is, in my personal presence, the only way in which they are able to see me.

Ye see me ; spiritually. See below, ver John 14:21-23 .

Verse 20

At that day ; when the Holy Spirit should come, and they should enjoy not the bodily, but the spiritual presence of the Redeemer.

Verse 22

How is it ; he supposed that Jesus spoke of his bodily presence. But after the Holy Ghost should come, he would remember and better understand the words of Christ.

Verse 23

Love to Jesus Christ will lead a man to obey his commands, and will secure to him the illuminating, purifying, and blissful presence of both the Father and the Son. They shall dwell with him and he with them, and his habitual communion be truly with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 .

Verse 26

All things ; all things which should be needful to fit them for the duties of their office.

Bring all things to your remembrance ; in such a way that he should, at the same time, enlighten them as to their true meaning.

Verse 27

Peace I leave with you ; as my parting gift. The allusion is to the Hebrew form of benediction, which is, "Peace be with you." My peace ; that which resembles his own, and which he alone can give: "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding." Philippians 4:7 .

Not as the world giveth ; their benedictions are empty and inefficacious; but mine are sincere and powerful. The consequences of thus dwelling and communing with the Father and the Son, are peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and good hope, through grace, that when absent from the body, they shall be present with the Lord, beholding his glory and rejoicing in his love. Such a one, therefore, need not fear, though the earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters roar and are troubled, and the mountains shake with the swelling thereof; for he will be kept in perfect peace, his mind being stayed on God.

Verse 28

Greater than I ; not in nature, but in condition. He is in a glorious and exalted state; I am in a humble and lowly condition, and if ye loved me, ye would rejoice in my going to him, for I shall then be in the same glorious and exalted state in which he is, and in which I was before creation. Chap John 17:5 . From that state of glory he would send them the Holy Ghost, and accomplish all which he had promised. When Christ speaks of the Father as greater than himself, he refers not to his own nature, but to his office, condition, and work as Mediator; and it implies no inferiority in his original dignity, wisdom, power, and glory.

Verse 29

Have told you ; of my departure from you by the death of the cross.

Ye might believe ; that is, more fully: might have your faith in me greatly strengthened by witnessing the fulfilment of my words.

Verse 30

Prince of this world ; the devil.

Nothing in me ; no sin or weakness of which he can take advantage. The devil would not succeed in his object, but would only help to show that Jesus was the Messiah.

Verse 31

But that the world may know ; fill out this clause thus: But this conflict with the prince of this world is permitted that the world may know, etc. In it they are to see an example of my obedience to the Father, even unto death.