Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 16:2

"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God." — John 16:2 (ASV)

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Christ's disciples were to expect opposition of the most cruel kind. They were to be put away from those with whom they had long worshipped; they were even to run the risk of losing their lives. But Jesus foretold what would happen to them, so that they might not be stumbled by it.

Such was their Lord's love to them that He would not have them attacked unexpectedly. By His grace, they would hold on, and hold out, they would persevere to the end; but there would have to be a struggle, and to help them in the fight, Jesus tells them all about it before it begins.

We say, "Forewarned, forearmed." So the disciples were, and so are you. Your Lord tells you that you will not get to heaven without trials: In the world ye shall have tribulation.

And He tells you this so that it may not surprise you when it comes, nor act upon you like a sudden gust of wind that would upset a little ship; but rather, so that you may keep everything in trim, expecting the storm to come: These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble.

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Can you remain faithful to your Master then, when you lose your position, or your character, or men put you out of the synagogue? When you nearly lose life itself, and when they shall think they are doing God's service by seeking to kill you, can you stand true to Christ then? The Master knew that days of bitter persecution would soon come upon his followers, so he strengthened them against those evil times that were approaching.

They shall put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the time comes, that whoever kills you will think that he does God service.

That terrible "time" did come very soon, and the Jewish and other persecutors hunted down the Christians in almost every place where they could be found. Nothing would satisfy their cruel foes but the blood of multitudes of martyrs, and many of the persecutors actually thought that they were doing God service while they were putting His children to torture and death.

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

The best of men are but men at the best, and they are very apt to fail when they find persecution intense against them, especially when even religious men, of a certain kind, consider it a religious duty to persecute the people of God.