John 16:1
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“I have told you these things so that you will not fall away.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
DISCOURSE AT THE SUPPER TABLE CONCLUDED. (John 16:1-33) These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended--both the warnings and the encouragements just given.
Open source ↗Christ dealt faithfully with his disciples when he sent them forth on his errands, for he told them the worst of it, that they might sit down and count the cost. He had told them in the chapter before to expect the world's hatred; now here in these verses, I. He gives them a reason why he alarmed them thus with the expectation of trouble: These things have I spoken unto you, that you should not be offended, or scandalized, Joh 16:1. 1. The disciples of Christ are apt to be offended at the cross; and the offence of the cross is a dangerous temptation, even to good men, to turn back from the ways of God, or turn aside out of them, or drive on heavily in them; to quit either their integrity or their comfort. It is not for nothing that a suffering time is called an hour of temptation. 2. Our Lord Jesus, by giving us notice of trouble, designed to take off the terror of it, that it might not be a surprise to us. Of all the adversaries of our peace, in this world of troubles, none insult us more violently, nor put our troops more into disorder, than disappointment does; but we can easily welcome a guest we expect, and being fore-warned are fore-armed - Praemoniti, praemuniti. II. He foretels particularly what they should suffer (Joh 16:2): "Those that have power to do it shall put you out of their synagogues; and this is not the worst, they shall kill you." Ecce duo-gladii - Behold two swords drawn against the followers of the Lord Jesus. 1. The sword of ecclesiastical censure; this is drawn against them by the Jews, for they were the only pretenders to church-power. They shall cast you out of their synagogues; aposunagōgous poiēsousin humas - they shall make you excommunicates. (1.) "They shall cast you out of the particular synagogues you were members of." At first, they…
Open source ↗16:1-2 Jesus had outlined the coming conflicts (15:18-25) so that the disciples would not abandon their faith (literally be caused to stumble). The greatest obstacle his disciples would face was to stumble and renounce their faith before their opponents (see Matt 23:34; Luke 6:22), especially during the dark days ahead (see John 12:35; 1 Jn 2:9-11).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,