17 Some of His disciples then said to one another , "What is this thing He is telling us, ' A little while , and you will not see Me; and again a little while , and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father '?" 18 So they were saying , "What is this that He says , 'A little while '? We do not know what He is talking about." 19 Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, "Are you deliberating together e about this , that I said , 'A little while , and you will not see Me, and again a little while , and you will see Me'? 20 "Truly , truly , I say to you, that you will weep and lament , but the world will rejoice ; you will grieve , but your grief will be turned into joy . 21 " Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain , because her hour has come ; but when she gives birth to the child , she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world . 22 "Therefore you too have grief now ; but I will see you again , and your heart will rejoice , and no one will take your joy away from you.
23 " In that day you will not question Me about anything . Truly , truly , I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name , He will give it to you. 24 " Until now you have asked for nothing in My name ; ask and you will receive , so that your joy may be made full .
25 "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language ; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language , but will tell you plainly of the Father . 26 " In that day you will ask in My name , and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf ; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father .
28 " I came forth from the Father and have come into the world ; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father ." 29 His disciples said , "Lo , now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech . 30 "Now we know that You know all things , and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God ." 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe ? 32 "Behold , an hour is coming , and has already come , for you to be scattered , each to his own home, and to leave Me alone ; and yet I am not alone , because the Father is with Me. 33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace . In the world you have tribulation , but take courage ; I have overcome the world ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 16:17-33
Commentary on John 16:16-22
(Read John 16:16-22)
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 the ungodly, which nothing can lessen; the believer is an heir to joy which no one can take away. Where now is the joy of the murderers of our Lord, and the sorrow of his friends?
Commentary on John 16:23-27
(Read John 16:23-27)
Asking of the Father shows a sense of spiritual wants, and a desire of spiritual blessings, with conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God, and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness. Our Lord had hitherto spoken in short and weighty sentences, or in parables, the import of which the disciples did not fully understand, but after his resurrection he intended plainly to teach them such things as related to the Father and the way to him, through his intercession. And the frequency with which our Lord enforces offering up petitions in his name, shows that the great end of the mediation of Christ is to impress us with a deep sense of our sinfulness, and of the merit and power of his death, whereby we have access to God. And let us ever remember, that to address the Father in the name of Christ, or to address the Son as God dwelling in human nature, and reconciling the world to himself, are the same, as the Father and Son are one.
Commentary on John 16:28-33
(Read John 16:28-33)
Here is a plain declaration of Christ's coming from the Father, and his return to him. The Redeemer, in his entrance, was God manifest in the flesh, and in his departure was received up into glory. By this saying the disciples improved in knowledge. Also in faith; "Now are we sure." Alas! they knew not their own weakness. The Divine nature did not desert the human nature, but supported it, and put comfort and value into Christ's sufferings. And while we have God's favourable presence, we are happy, and ought to be easy, though all the world forsake us. Peace in Christ is the only true peace, in him alone believers have it. Through him we have peace with God, and so in him we have peace in our own minds. We ought to be encouraged, because Christ has overcome the world before us. But while we think we stand, let us take heed lest we fall. We know not how we should act if brought into temptation; let us watch and pray without ceasing, that we may not be left to ourselves.