Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 16:1

"These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble." — John 16:1 (ASV)

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

That you should not be scandalized when you see me put to death, and when you miss my bodily presence from among you. I want to prepare you for the shame and death that lie before me, and also to prepare you for all that lies before you, for many of you will have to drink of my cup, and to be baptized with my baptism. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended, or ashamed, or scandalized, or caused to stumble, when they come to pass.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

Or, as the Revised Version translates it, "be made to stumble."

Christ would not have his children stumble. There is an offence of the cross, but he would not have us needlessly offended. How careful is our dear Saviour not to give us offence! We ought to be very careful not to offend him; but what condescension it is on his part that he should be careful of offending us, or of permitting us to be offended, or made to stumble.

These things have I spoken to you, that you should not be offended.

The temptation is, when Christ is despised and rejected, for our hearts to begin to sink, and for our faith to fail. Therefore Christ warned his disciples that they should not be offended.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

Or, "made to stumble." Christ would not have you who are his people caused to stumble by anything that happens to you. He wants you to walk without tripping; his angels bear you up in their hands lest at any time you should dash your foot against a stone. He himself, as your Guardian, comes and speaks beforehand to let you know what is to occur to you, that you may not be caused to stumble by any fresh trial that may assail you.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

That you should not be scandalized when you are put to suffering on any account – that you should not dread the offence of the cross, and turn aside because of it.

How considerate our Master is! It seems as if He might be angry at us if He suspected that we could be offended by anything that He did or suffered, or that we had to suffer for Him.

But He knows the weakness of our flesh, and therefore, He speaks with so much elaboration of comfort.