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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 16:16-22

Our Lord Jesus, for the comfort of his sorrowful disciples, here promises that he would visit them again. I. Observe the intimation he gave them of the comfort he designed them, John 16:16. Here he tells them, 1. That they should now shortly lose the sight of him: A little while, and you that have seen me so long, and still desire to see me, shall not see me; and therefore, if they had any good question to ask him, they must ask quickly, for he was now taking his leave of them. Note, It is... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 16:16-24

16:16-24 "In a little while you will not see me any more; and again in a little while you will see me." Some of his disciples said to each other: "What is the meaning of this that he is saying to us--'In a little while you will not see me, and again in a little while you will see me'? And what does he mean when he says: 'I am going to my Father'? What does he mean when he talks about 'A little'? We do not know what he means." Jesus knew that they wished to ask him their questions, and he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:16

A little while and ye shall not see me ,.... Meaning, that he should be quickly taken from them by death. And in a very little time after this, having put up a prayer for them, recorded in the next chapter, he went into the garden, where he was met by Judas with his band of men, who laid hold on him, bound him, and led him first to Annas, then to Caiaphas, and from him to Pilate, when all the disciples forsook him and fled, and saw him no more in this mortal state, except Peter and John. He... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:17

Then said some of his disciples among themselves ,.... It may be, some of them might better understand the meaning of Christ than others, or they might all be ignorant of it; for before the effusion of the Spirit on them, they were attended with a great deal of ignorance; and what through their being overwhelmed at this time with sorrow, and what with their national sentiments they retained about a temporal kingdom, they understood very little of what Christ said to them concerning his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:18

They said therefore ,.... One, and all of them; the inquiry became universal; what is this that he saith, a little while ? it seems as if this phrase was the most intricate and perplexing to them; for whatever conceptions they might have of not seeing, and seeing him again, as expressive of his going from them, and returning to them, yet had no notion at all what he should mean by "a little while": and therefore add, we cannot tell what he saith : they knew his words, but not his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:19

Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him ,.... This is a proof of Christ's deity, that he is the omniscient God who knows all things, what is in man, even the secrets of the heart; for he not only knew the whisperings of the disciples, and their inquiries among themselves about the sense of his words, but also their secret desires to ask him concerning it: and said unto them, do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, a little while and ye shall not see me, and again a little... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:20

Verily, verily, I say unto you ,.... A strong asseveration, a way of speaking often used by him, when he solemnly affirms any thing, and would assure of the truth of it, as here: that ye shall weep and lament ; meaning at his death, when he should be removed from them, so that they should not see him; when they should be filled with inward grief on account thereof, and express it by mournful gestures, and a doleful voice; and which was fulfilled in them, Mark 16:10 ; and how pensive... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:16

A little while - He had but a few hours to live. And ye shall not see me - I shall be hidden from your view in the grave. Again a little while - In three days after my death: Ye shall see me - I will rise again, and show myself to you. Or, As I am going by my ascension to the Father, in a short time, ye shall see me personally no more; but in a little while I shall pour out my Spirit upon you, and others through your ministry; and ye shall see me virtually in the great and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:18

What is this that he saith - They knew from what he had said that he was to die, but knew not what he meant by their seeing him again in a little time. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:20

Ye shall weep and lament - To see me crucified and laid in the grave. But the world shall rejoice - The chief priests, scribes, Pharisees, and persecuting Jews in general, will triumph, hoping that their bad cause is crowned with success. But your sorrow shall be turned into joy - When ye see me risen from the dead. It is very evident that our Lord uses the word world, in several parts of this discourse of his, to signify the unbelieving and rebellious Jews. read more

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