John14
New International Version
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
12Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
15“If you love me, keep my commands.
16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—
17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
21Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25“All this I have spoken while still with you.
26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
30I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,
31but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 14.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ comforts his disciples. (1–11). He further comforts his disciples. (12–17). He still further comforts his disciples. (18–31).
vv1-11
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.
vv12-17
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.
vv18-24
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.
Key Words
ταράσσω (tarássō): to stir or agitate (roil water)
μή (mḗ): (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 (οὐ) expects an affirmative one)) whether
ὑμῶν (hymōn): of (from or concerning) you
καρδία (kardía): the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
πιστεύω (pisteúō): to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐμέ (emé): me
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
Cross References
John 14Christ is the Truth, containing all the fullness of the Godhead bodily as the Father's manifestation.
Supported by JFB
Direct internal parallel; knowing and seeing the Son is knowing and seeing the Father.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Verbal parallel on the mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son, proved by His works.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Christ's high priestly prayer expresses the same desire: 'that they also... may be with me where I am.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Crucial internal connection linking the keeping of Christ's commandments with active love for Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel promise of the Holy Spirit teaching the disciples and guiding them into all truth.
Supported by JFB
Frame-end parallel where Jesus repeats the remedy of His peace against troubled hearts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Internal reference to Christ going away and returning, which should cause them to rejoice.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The works which the Father gave Christ to finish bear witness of His divine authority.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Internal progression of the Spirit's description as the Comforter abiding within believers.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel promise of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth sent by the Father.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reinforces the reciprocal theme that those who love Christ will keep His words.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Concluding discourse parallel where Christ promises peace in Himself despite tribulation in the world.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Christ tells them events before they happen so that when they occur, they may believe.
Supported by John Calvin
Contrasts our temporary earthly tabernacle with the eternal house/mansion prepared in heaven.
Supported by Matthew Poole