Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 17:14-15

"I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one]." — John 17:14-15 (ASV)

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

"Do not let the world so besmear and defile them as to do them harm. Let them keep on as lamps burning in dark places. Take them not out of the world, but keep them from the evil."

I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil.

There is a reason for God's elect being allowed to remain in the world. They are never left, like wheat in the field, to perish through the damp and cold, or to be devoured by the birds of the air. Oh, no!

We are left for God's glory, that people may see what the grace of God can do in poor frail bodies; for the service of Christ's Church, that we may be here for a while to carry on the cause of God, to be the means of comforting the little ones, and to seek the conversion of sinners.

We are to be like salt to prevent putrefaction. We are God's preventive people, to prevent as much of the evil as we can; and we are to fight with the evil that cannot be prevented, and to seek to overthrow it in Christ's name.