Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 16:12

"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." — John 16:12 (ASV)

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have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Here again observe the reticence of the Saviour for his disciples' good, still graciously keeping from them what they could not bear to hear; and are not you, beloved, thankful that you do not, at this moment, know what is to happen to you in the future? It is wise for each one of us to say, –

"My God, I would not wish to read
My fate with curious eyes;
What gloomy lines are written for me,
Or what bright scenes arise."

It is best for you, at present, to know only a little. Prize what you do know, and be content to leave all that is not yet revealed, for the secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Some teachers overload their hearers with truth until I might truly say that they pile on the agony. Truth which cannot be received is often most irksome and burdensome to the hearer; when the mind is not in a fit condition to bear any more instruction, it is cruel work to impose it. Our Lord Jesus did not so overburden his disciples: I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

See how Christ teaches us slowly, wisely, prudently. There are some things which some of you young Christians do not know; you could not bear them if you did know them. You shall know them when you can bear them.

A man with a doctrine that he cannot handle is often like a child with a tough piece of meat which he cannot bite. Give the child milk, or the crumb of the loaf. Do not put crusts into his mouth until he has teeth to bite them; do not give him meat until he can digest it.

See the gentle Savior's way of imparting instruction. He teaches us much, but not too much at a time.