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James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 16:21

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world.The analogy here strongly resembles some of the parables found in the synoptics. Fittingly, Jesus the Seed of Woman here referred to himself as a woman in the pangs of childbirth, his apostles also being identified with him as sharing in his sufferings.Her hour is come ... strongly reminds the student of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 16:21-22

John 16:21-22. A woman when she is in travail— "The state of mind you will be in, when the events happen of which I am speaking, cannot be described better than by comparing it to the condition of a woman in travail. During her labour she has exquisite pain, because the birth approaches; but as soon as the is delivered, she forgets her anguish, being filled with joy that she has brought one of the human species and a child of her own into the world. Just so, you my disciples will be in the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 16:1-24

7. The clarification of the future 16:1-24Jesus proceeded to review things that He had just told His disciples, but He now gave them more information. Particularly the ministry of the Holy Spirit is the subject of this section of the discourse, though Jesus also clarified other matters about which He had spoken, namely: the new relations arising from His departure.Jesus’ method of teaching in the Upper Room Discourse was not to give a thorough explanation of one subject, then a thorough... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 16:16-24

The reappearance of Jesus 16:16-24Jesus next turned the disciples’ attention from the Spirit’s future ministries to His own reappearance. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 16:20

Again Jesus did not answer the disciples’ question directly because they would not have been able to understand Him if He had (John 16:12). What He did say was very important, however, as His introductory asseveration indicated.Jesus’ departure would mean great sorrow for His disciples but great joy for the world. This was the condition when Jesus died on the cross. Later the disciples’ sorrow would turn to joy. This was the result of Jesus’ resurrection (John 20:20). Some commentators viewed... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 16:21

Jesus compared how the disciples would feel to the feelings of a pregnant woman at her delivery. This was an Old Testament illustration of how God’s people would feel when Messiah appeared (cf. Isaiah 21:3-5; Isaiah 26:16-21; Isaiah 66:7-14; Jeremiah 13:21; Micah 4:9-10). Jesus again used the word "hour" (Gr. hora, John 2:4; et al.) to focus the critical time of both painful experiences: His death and the woman’s delivery. What issues from the painful experience is so wonderful, in both cases,... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:1-33

The Resurrection and Ascension of Christ Will Prove the Disciples’ Comfort in Time of Persecution1-6. The Persecution of the Apostles predicted. This section repeats many of the ideas of the previous chapter (see John 15:18-24). The reason of the anticipated persecution is ’because they (the persecutors) have not known the Father nor Me’ (John 16:3); i.e. because they have mistaken the character of the service which the Father requires of them. They think that He requires strict observance of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 16:20

(20) Verily, verily, I say unto you.—Comp. Note on John 1:51.That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice.—Comp. John 20:11, and Luke 23:27. In the original the contrast between the sorrow of the disciples and the joy of the world is rendered the more striking by the order of the words, “Weep and lament shall ye, but the world shall rejoice.” The tears and the scoffs at the cross were the accomplishment of this prophecy.And ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned... read more

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