John 14WEB
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John14

World English Bible · Public Domain

1“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.

2In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.

3If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.

4You know where I go, and you know the way.”

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him and have seen him.”

8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.

11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

12Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.

13Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.

15If you love me, keep my commandments.

16I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever:

17the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

18I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.

19Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.

20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

21One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”

22Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

24He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

25“I have said these things to you while still living with you.

26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

27Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

28You heard how I told you, ‘I am going away, and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I.

29Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens, you may believe.

30I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me.

31But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let’s go from here.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 14.

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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.

Cross References

John 14
v6Colossians 2:9thematic

Christ is the Truth, containing all the fullness of the Godhead bodily as the Father's manifestation.

Supported by JFB

v9John 14:7thematic

Direct internal parallel; knowing and seeing the Son is knowing and seeing the Father.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v10John 10:38thematic

Verbal parallel on the mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son, proved by His works.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v3John 17:24thematic

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

v21John 14:15thematic

Crucial internal connection linking the keeping of Christ's commandments with active love for Him.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v26John 16:13-16thematic

Parallel promise of the Holy Spirit teaching the disciples and guiding them into all truth.

Supported by JFB

v1John 14:27thematic

Frame-end parallel where Jesus repeats the remedy of His peace against troubled hearts.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3John 14:28thematic

Internal reference to Christ going away and returning, which should cause them to rejoice.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v11John 5:36thematic

The works which the Father gave Christ to finish bear witness of His divine authority.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v17John 14:16-20thematic

Internal progression of the Spirit's description as the Comforter abiding within believers.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v26John 15:26thematic

Parallel promise of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth sent by the Father.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15John 14:23thematic

Reinforces the reciprocal theme that those who love Christ will keep His words.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v27John 16:33thematic

Concluding discourse parallel where Christ promises peace in Himself despite tribulation in the world.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v29John 13:19thematic

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