Section 121--Part VI, Another Helper (John 14:15-21)
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:15-21
Love Honors Commands
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." -John 14:15
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." John 14:21
If ye love me (ean agapāte me). Third-class condition “if ye keep on loving (Continued love prevents disobedience. rwp
In difficult times our care concerning the events of the day should be swallowed up in a care concerning the duty of the day. -MHenry
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.
He it is that loveth me (ekeinos estin ho agapōn me). Emphatic demonstrative pronoun ekeinos: “that is the one who loves me.” RWP
"The principle that underlies these words, then, is this, that love is the foundation of obedience, and obedience is the sure outcome and result of love." -MacLaren
"Christ’s ‘commandments’ are Christ Himself. This is the originality and uniqueness of Christ as a moral Teacher, that He says, not ‘Do this, that, and the other thing,’ but ‘Copy Me.’ ‘Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.’ His commandments are Himself; and the sum of them all is this-a character perfectly self-oblivious, and wholly penetrated and saturated with joyful, filial submission to the Father, and uttermost and entire giving Himself away to His brethren. That is Christ’s commandment which He bids us keep, and His law is to be found in His life." -MacLaren
"Obedience: There are two motives for keeping commandments, one, because they are commanded, and one because we love Him that commands. The one is slavery, the other is liberty. The one is like the Arctic regions, cold and barren, the other is like tropical lands, full of warmth and sunshine, glorious and glad fertility." -MacLaren, Biblical Illustrator
Practical religion
Since a vestment ornamented with gold is a beautiful and conspicuous object, but seems much more so to us when it is worn upon our own persons, thus also the precepts of God are beautiful when but praised, but appear far more lovely when they are rightly observed, and conspicuous in our own life. (T. H. Leary, D. C. L.)
Comforter
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." John 14:16 KJ
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you." John 14:16 NLT
pray---erōtaō
er-o-tah'-o
Apparently from G2046 (compare G2045); to interrogate; by implication to request: - ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray. Compare G4441. -Strongs
"The word translated pray that is used here of our Lord is not the same word used to describe an inferior praying to a superior, but of one making request of his equal." -Believer's Bible
"The Rabbinical writings often refer to the Messiah under the title Menahem (= Comforter), and speak of His days as the days of consolation." -Bullinger
"There is no adequate translation for the word Paraclete. It may be rendered “interpreter,” “comforter,” “advocate,” but no one word suffices. The Greek means “one whom you call to your side in the battle or law-court.” F.B. Meyer
"Another Comforter (allon paraklēton). Another of like kind. This old word (Demosthenes), from parakaleō, was used for legal assistant, pleader, advocate, one who pleads another’s cause (Josephus, Philo, in illiterate papyrus), in N.T. only in John’s writings, though the idea of it is in Rom_8:26-34. So the Christian has Christ as his Paraclete with the Father, the Holy Spirit as the Father’s Paraclete with us." RWP
"It means not only one who administers sweet whispers of consolation in sorrow, but one who, in any circumstances, by his presence makes strong. And the original Greek word, of which it is the translation here, has a precisely analogous meaning; its original signification being that of ‘one who is called to the aid of another,’ primarily as an advocate in a court of law, but more widely as a helper in any form whatsoever. And that is the idea which is to be attached to the word here:-a Comforter who makes strong by His presence; the Paraclete, who is our Advocate, Helper, Guide, and Instructor." -MacLaren
"Jansenius thinks the most proper word to render it by is a patron, one that shall both instruct and protect you." -M Henry
"With His disciples, Jesus was limited in that He could only be in one place at one time. That is why He would say, "It is expedient for me to go away that the Comforter might come (Joh_16:7). The Comforter is One who will heal your hurts, still your storms, and supply your needs." -Jon Courson
Spirit of Truth
"This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!" -John 14:17, The Message
“a most exquisite title” (Bengel). The Holy Spirit is marked by it (genitive case), gives it, defends it (cf. Joh_1:17), in contrast to the spirit of error (1Jn_4:6). -Vincent's Word Studies
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17
“He is the Spirit of truth.” He will be true to you, and to his undertaking for you, which he will perform to the utmost. He will teach you the truth, will enlighten your minds with the knowledge of it, will strengthen and confirm your belief of it, and will increase your love to it. The Gentiles by their idolatries, and the Jews by their traditions, were led into gross errors and mistakes; but the Spirit of truth shall not only lead you into all truth, but others by your ministry. Christ is the truth, and he is the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit that he was anointed with. -M Henry
"The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth by reason of that which he does, because he inspires the truth into us, because he has the truth in himself." -Geneva
Even though this is a few chapters ahead, it bears upon the function of truth, sanctification:
"And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." John 17:19
Whom the world cannot receive
"whom the world cannot receive" v 17
ME: Why can't the world receive him? .....because "it neither sees him or knows him"
world
kosmos = world-system. -Scofield
"Cannot receive (ou dunatai labein). Left to itself the sinful world is helpless (1Co_2:14; Rom_8:7.), almost Paul’s very language on this point. The world lacks spiritual insight (ou theōrei) and spiritual knowledge (oude ginōskei). It failed to recognize Jesus (Joh_1:10) and likewise the Holy Spirit." RWP
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14
With you and in you
But the disciples know him because "He dwells with you and will dwell in you." v 17
Oddness--a spirit dwelling with a person and then in a person. What's the difference?
With you (par' humin). “By your side,” “at home with you,” not merely “with you” (meth' humōn) “in the midst of you.”
In you (en humin). In your hearts. So note meta (Joh_14:16), para, en.rwp
"The word “dwelleth” means to remain with them. Jesus was to be taken away, but the Spirit would remain. It is also implied that they would know his presence, and have assurance that they were under his guidance. This was true of the apostles as inspired men, and it is true of all Christians that by ascertaining that they have the “graces of the Spirit” - joy, peace, long-suffering, etc. they know that they are the children of God, 1Jn_3:24; 1Jn_5:10." -Barnes
As Orphans
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." v 18
He will not leave them as orphans but will come to them?
So, He is the Spirit?
Desolate (orphanous). Old word (orphos, Latin orbus), bereft of parents, and of parents bereft of children. Common in papyri of orphan children. In Joh_13:33 Jesus called the disciples teknia (little children), and so naturally the word means “orphans” here, but the meaning may be “helpless” (without the other Paraclete, the Holy Spirit). The only other N.T. example is in Jas_1:27 where it means “fatherless.” rwp
Because I live, you also will live. v19
Their individual promise of resurrection is iron-clad promised
"At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." v 20
Which day? The day he is resurrected? The day he comes back to them? The day he will ultimately return to earth? MacLaren says yes, yes and yes:
"‘At that day’ covers the whole period of which He has been speaking, between His withdrawal from the disciples and His final corporeal coming to judgment-that great day of which generations are but the moments." -MacLaren
Manifest myself to him
I will love him and manifest myself to him.” v 21
The Unseen and Risen Christ will be a real and spiritual Presence to the obedient and loving believer rwp
He that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father; not that love to is the cause, condition, or motive of the Father's love to his people; nor does his love to them begin when they begin to love Christ; but this expression denotes some further and greater manifestation of the Father's love to such persons, and shows how grateful to the Father are love and obedience to the Son: and I will love him; which must be understood in the same manner; Christ does not begin to love his people when they begin to love, and obey him; their love and obedience to him, spring from his love to them; which love of his towards them was from everlasting: but this phrase signs a clearer discovery of his love to them, which passeth knowledge; and some fresh mark and token of his affection for them; and which is explained in the next clause:
and will manifest myself to him; not in a visible way, or in a corporeal form, as he did to his disciples after his resurrection; but in a spiritual manner, as when he makes himself known to his people in ordinances, and favours them with communion with him, and they see his beauty, his fulness, his grace and righteousness, his power, and his glory. -Gill
"Obedience now is revelation afterward."
Love Honors Commands
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." -John 14:15
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." John 14:21
If ye love me (ean agapāte me). Third-class condition “if ye keep on loving (Continued love prevents disobedience. rwp
In difficult times our care concerning the events of the day should be swallowed up in a care concerning the duty of the day. -MHenry
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.
He it is that loveth me (ekeinos estin ho agapōn me). Emphatic demonstrative pronoun ekeinos: “that is the one who loves me.” RWP
"Christ’s ‘commandments’ are Christ Himself. This is the originality and uniqueness of Christ as a moral Teacher, that He says, not ‘Do this, that, and the other thing,’ but ‘Copy Me.’ ‘Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.’ His commandments are Himself; and the sum of them all is this-a character perfectly self-oblivious, and wholly penetrated and saturated with joyful, filial submission to the Father, and uttermost and entire giving Himself away to His brethren. That is Christ’s commandment which He bids us keep, and His law is to be found in His life." -MacLaren
"Obedience: There are two motives for keeping commandments, one, because they are commanded, and one because we love Him that commands. The one is slavery, the other is liberty. The one is like the Arctic regions, cold and barren, the other is like tropical lands, full of warmth and sunshine, glorious and glad fertility." -MacLaren, Biblical Illustrator
Practical religion
Since a vestment ornamented with gold is a beautiful and conspicuous object, but seems much more so to us when it is worn upon our own persons, thus also the precepts of God are beautiful when but praised, but appear far more lovely when they are rightly observed, and conspicuous in our own life. (T. H. Leary, D. C. L.)
Comforter
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." John 14:16 KJ
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you." John 14:16 NLT
pray---erōtaō
er-o-tah'-o
Apparently from G2046 (compare G2045); to interrogate; by implication to request: - ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray. Compare G4441. -Strongs
"The word translated pray that is used here of our Lord is not the same word used to describe an inferior praying to a superior, but of one making request of his equal." -Believer's Bible
"The Rabbinical writings often refer to the Messiah under the title Menahem (= Comforter), and speak of His days as the days of consolation." -Bullinger
"There is no adequate translation for the word Paraclete. It may be rendered “interpreter,” “comforter,” “advocate,” but no one word suffices. The Greek means “one whom you call to your side in the battle or law-court.” F.B. Meyer
"Another Comforter (allon paraklēton). Another of like kind. This old word (Demosthenes), from parakaleō, was used for legal assistant, pleader, advocate, one who pleads another’s cause (Josephus, Philo, in illiterate papyrus), in N.T. only in John’s writings, though the idea of it is in Rom_8:26-34. So the Christian has Christ as his Paraclete with the Father, the Holy Spirit as the Father’s Paraclete with us." RWP
"It means not only one who administers sweet whispers of consolation in sorrow, but one who, in any circumstances, by his presence makes strong. And the original Greek word, of which it is the translation here, has a precisely analogous meaning; its original signification being that of ‘one who is called to the aid of another,’ primarily as an advocate in a court of law, but more widely as a helper in any form whatsoever. And that is the idea which is to be attached to the word here:-a Comforter who makes strong by His presence; the Paraclete, who is our Advocate, Helper, Guide, and Instructor." -MacLaren
"Jansenius thinks the most proper word to render it by is a patron, one that shall both instruct and protect you." -M Henry
"With His disciples, Jesus was limited in that He could only be in one place at one time. That is why He would say, "It is expedient for me to go away that the Comforter might come (Joh_16:7). The Comforter is One who will heal your hurts, still your storms, and supply your needs." -Jon Courson
Spirit of Truth
"This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!" -John 14:17, The Message
“a most exquisite title” (Bengel). The Holy Spirit is marked by it (genitive case), gives it, defends it (cf. Joh_1:17), in contrast to the spirit of error (1Jn_4:6). -Vincent's Word Studies
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17
"The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth by reason of that which he does, because he inspires the truth into us, because he has the truth in himself." -Geneva
Even though this is a few chapters ahead, it bears upon the function of truth, sanctification:
"And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." John 17:19
Whom the world cannot receive
"whom the world cannot receive" v 17
ME: Why can't the world receive him? .....because "it neither sees him or knows him"
world
kosmos = world-system. -Scofield
"Cannot receive (ou dunatai labein). Left to itself the sinful world is helpless (1Co_2:14; Rom_8:7.), almost Paul’s very language on this point. The world lacks spiritual insight (ou theōrei) and spiritual knowledge (oude ginōskei). It failed to recognize Jesus (Joh_1:10) and likewise the Holy Spirit." RWP
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14
With you and in you
But the disciples know him because "He dwells with you and will dwell in you." v 17
With you (par' humin). “By your side,” “at home with you,” not merely “with you” (meth' humōn) “in the midst of you.”
In you (en humin). In your hearts. So note meta (Joh_14:16), para, en.rwp
"The word “dwelleth” means to remain with them. Jesus was to be taken away, but the Spirit would remain. It is also implied that they would know his presence, and have assurance that they were under his guidance. This was true of the apostles as inspired men, and it is true of all Christians that by ascertaining that they have the “graces of the Spirit” - joy, peace, long-suffering, etc. they know that they are the children of God, 1Jn_3:24; 1Jn_5:10." -Barnes
As Orphans
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." v 18
He will not leave them as orphans but will come to them?
So, He is the Spirit?
Desolate (orphanous). Old word (orphos, Latin orbus), bereft of parents, and of parents bereft of children. Common in papyri of orphan children. In Joh_13:33 Jesus called the disciples teknia (little children), and so naturally the word means “orphans” here, but the meaning may be “helpless” (without the other Paraclete, the Holy Spirit). The only other N.T. example is in Jas_1:27 where it means “fatherless.” rwp
Because I live, you also will live. v19
Their individual promise of resurrection is iron-clad promised
Which day? The day he is resurrected? The day he comes back to them? The day he will ultimately return to earth? MacLaren says yes, yes and yes:
"‘At that day’ covers the whole period of which He has been speaking, between His withdrawal from the disciples and His final corporeal coming to judgment-that great day of which generations are but the moments." -MacLaren
"Christ is in the believer in the sense that His life is communicated to him. He actually dwells in the believer through the Holy Spirit. The believer is in Christ in the sense that he stands before God in all the merit of the Person and work of Christ." -Believer's Bible
That I am in my Father ... - That we are most intimately and indissolubly united.--Barnes
I will love him and manifest myself to him.” v 21
The Unseen and Risen Christ will be a real and spiritual Presence to the obedient and loving believer rwp
He that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father; not that love to is the cause, condition, or motive of the Father's love to his people; nor does his love to them begin when they begin to love Christ; but this expression denotes some further and greater manifestation of the Father's love to such persons, and shows how grateful to the Father are love and obedience to the Son: and I will love him; which must be understood in the same manner; Christ does not begin to love his people when they begin to love, and obey him; their love and obedience to him, spring from his love to them; which love of his towards them was from everlasting: but this phrase signs a clearer discovery of his love to them, which passeth knowledge; and some fresh mark and token of his affection for them; and which is explained in the next clause:
and will manifest myself to him; not in a visible way, or in a corporeal form, as he did to his disciples after his resurrection; but in a spiritual manner, as when he makes himself known to his people in ordinances, and favours them with communion with him, and they see his beauty, his fulness, his grace and righteousness, his power, and his glory. -Gill
"Obedience now is revelation afterward."
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