Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 16:8-12

"And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." — John 16:8-12 (ASV)

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

"You have not yet received the Spirit of God as you will do after my departure, and then your capacities will be enlarged, so that you will be able to understand deep truths which are altogether beyond your comprehension at present."

And when he has come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they do not believe in me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

Teachers, learn wisdom from Christ. He did not try to teach his disciples everything at once; but, by teaching them one truth, he prepared them for another truth. Let us do the same with those whom we try to teach: let us dispense to them the simpler truths first, and afterwards those that are deeper and more mysterious.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.

Partly because their sorrow incapacitated them for hearing any more; partly because their spiritual infancy did not yet permit them to learn the deeper doctrines which are rather meat for men than milk for babes. O you who are teachers of others, imitate the prudence of Jesus. Do not teach people too much at once. Do not try to make a little child understand all that an advanced and experienced saint knows. Say, as your Master did, I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.