John 16:16-17:26 NIV

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - John 16:16

a little while, and now you shall not see me, &c. Many expound these words in this manner: that after a little while, you shall not see me, because even to-morrow, I shall be taken from you by death: and again, after a little while, you shall see me, because the third day I shall rise again, and converse with you, till my ascension. St. Augustine gives another interpretation, (tract. 101.) that by the first little while, may be understood, the short time till Christ's ascension, and by... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - John 16:16-22

16-22 It is good to consider how near our seasons of grace are to an end, that we may be quickened to improve them. But the sorrows of the disciples would soon be turned into joy; as those of a mother, at the sight of her infant. The Holy Spirit would be their Comforter, and neither men nor devils, neither sufferings in life nor in death, would ever deprive them of their joy. Believers have joy or sorrow, according to their sight of Christ, and the tokens of his presence. Sorrow is coming on... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - John 16:1-99

John 16 FURTHER WORDS OF warning follow in the opening verses of this chapter, lest the disciples should be stumbled by being unprepared for persecution. Act_8:3 ; Act_9:1 , Act_9:2 ; 1Ti_1:13 , furnish us with a commentary on verses Joh_16:2 and 3 of our chapter. Saul of Tarsus persecuted this way unto the death, and he did it ignorantly in his unbelief. At that time he certainly knew neither the Father nor the Son. Jesus was going to Him that sent Him, and the disciples had sufficient sense... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - John 16:16-18

The Comfort of Christ's Second Advent. The comfort of the short separation: v. 16. A little while, and ye shall not see Me; and again a little while, and ye shall see Me, because I go to the Father. v. 17. Then said some of His disciples among themselves, What is this that He saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see Me; and again a little while, and ye shall see Me; and, Because I go to the Father? v. 18. They said therefore, What is this that He saith, A little while? We... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - John 16:16-33

DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL(On John 16:16-33.)1. In the preceding section Christ clearly distinguishes His presence with the disciples from the future presence of the Holy Ghost with them. But now He reveals to them the prospect of Himself speedily being with them again in a new form. By this can be meant, in the first instance, nothing else than the Resurrection, with its manifestations; that, however, is at the same time a symbol and pledge of the general fact of their future meeting;—of their... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - John 16:16-19

John CHRIST’S ‘LITTLE WHILES’ Joh_16:16 - Joh_16:19 . A superficial glance at the former part of these verses may fail to detect their connection with the great preceding promise of the Spirit who is to guide the disciples ‘into all truth.’ They appear to stand quite isolated and apart from that. But a little thought will bring out an obvious connection. The first words of our text are really the climax and crown of the promise of the Spirit; for that Spirit is to ‘guide into all the truth’... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - John 16:12-24

Looking beyond Present Sorrow John 16:12-24 The disciples were terribly overwrought by the events of the last few days, the reversal of their cherished hopes, and the growing darkness and sorrow of the approaching cross. Their physical nature and their minds and affections could bear no more. Sorrow had filled their heart, and the Master forbore to describe in further detail the valley of shadow through which they were still to pass. A comparison of the Gospels and Epistles will indicate how... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - John 16:1-33

Throughout these discourses our Lord was preparing His disciples for all that He saw coming to them. He told them that they would have sorrow resulting from their suffering. Because of this, it was necessary that they have the Comforter, and He could come only after the bodily departure of the Lord Himself. The world was still in the heart of Jesus, and He told His disciples in very clear terms what the office of the Spirit would be in the world. To gather up the teaching, we see that the... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - John 16:1-22

The Holy Spirit Chapter John 16:1-22 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The sixteenth chapter of John contains a part of our Lord's last message before He went out to Gethsemane and on to the Cross. The disciples were deeply concerned because He was going away. They were filled with sorrow. For this cause our Lord spoke tenderly and with deep concern. In John 14:1-31 the Lord gave expressions of comfort. We have already studied this chapter, calling it the "Comfort Chapter." In chapter 15 Christ's message... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - John 16:16

ABSENT AND PRESENT‘A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me.’ John 16:16 In the first part of the sentence our Lord evidently referred to the time during which His bodily Presence would be hidden from them by reason of His death and burial.So far all is clear. But what did the Lord mean when He said, ‘I shall see you again’? The time was at hand when a different kind of contact would be possible, and intercourse would begin. After His Ascension,... read more