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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:20

Verse 20 20.You will weep and lament. He shows for what reason he foretold that his departure was at hand, and, at the same time, added a promise about his speedy return. It was, that they might understand better that the aid of the Spirit was highly necessary. “Ahard and severe temptation,” says he, “awaits you; for, when I shall be removed from you by death, the world will proclaim its triumphs over you. You will feel the deepest anguish. The world will pronounce itself to be happy, and you... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:21

Verse 21 21.A woman, when she is in labor. He employs a comparison to confirm the statement which he had just now made, or rather, he expresses his meaning more clearly, that not only will their sorrow be turned into joy, but also that it contains in itself the ground and occasion ofjoy It frequently happens that, when adversity has been followed by prosperity, men forget their former grief, and give themselves up unreservedly tojoy, and yet the grief which came before it is not the cause of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:22

Verse 22 22.Your joy no man shall take from you. The value of the joy is greatly enhanced by its perpetuity; for it follows that the afflictions are light, and ought to be patiently endured, because they are of short duration. By these words Christ reminds us what is the nature of true joy The world must unavoidably be soon deprived of its joys, which it seeks only in fading things; and, therefore, we must come to the resurrection of Christ, in which there is eternal solidity. But I will see... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:16-22

The departure of Jesus, with its experiences of sorrow and joy to the disciples. They were soon to stand in a new relation to Christ. I. THE DEPARTURE AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST . "A little while, and ye shall see me no more: then a little while more, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father? 1. Our " Lord foresees and declares his death as almost at hand . That would for the time sever him from the sight of his disciples. 2. He foresees and declares... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:16-24

(c) The sorrow turned into joy . In these verses he approaches the final farewell, in which the whole body of the disciples are introduced as inwardly or among themselves perturbed by the special difficulty of the words. Before the Spirit can do all this, a separation must be experienced. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:19

Now £ Jesus knew (perceived by his Divine penetration of human thought here quickened by their anxious look and hurried whisperings) that they were wishing to question him, and he said to them, Are you inquiring among yourselves concerning this that I said, A little while, etc.? In his repetition he does not quote the clause which they had added— i.e. added if the clause, John 16:16 , is not genuine. He proceeded to meet their difficulties. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:20

There is no exact or categoric reply to the very inquiry which he has heard and cited, but there is more of prophecy and help than if he had said, "Tomorrow I die and shall be laid in the grave, and on the third day I shall rise again." He had often said this, and they refused to understand. It was not merely a resurrection of the body, but the glorification in the Father of his entire Personality, for which he wished them to be prepared. A simple restoration like that of Lazarus would not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:20

Grief and gladness. Our Lord gave his apostles to understand that he was no enemy to the emotions that are characteristic of humanity. By becoming his disciples men did not exempt themselves from the common sorrows, nor did they forfeit the common joys, of human life. But these emotions were to be excited by greater and worthier occasions than those met with in ordinary experience. To be a Christian is to know profounder sorrow, and to rise to loftier joy, than falls to the lot of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:21

The next illustration is very remarkable, and surely cannot be a simple analogy of the supervening of joy on sorrow. The woman (the article does not point to any special γυνή , but refers to a universal fact and law of womanhood, cf. ὁ δοῦλος , John 15:15 ) when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come. So now there are the travail-pangs of the new humanity, the new theocracy, bitter and terrible, But as soon as she has brought forth the child, she remembereth no... read more

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