Matthew Henry Commentary John 14

Here are three words, upon any of which stress may be laid. Upon the word troubled. Do not be cast down and disquieted. Upon the word heart. Let your heart be kept with full trust in God. Upon the word your.

However others are overwhelmed with the sorrows of this present time, do not let yourselves be so. Christ's disciples, more than others, should keep their minds quiet when everything else is unquiet. Here is the remedy against this trouble of mind: "Believe." By believing in Christ as the Mediator between God and man, we gain comfort. The happiness of heaven is spoken of as being in a father's house.

There are many mansions, for there are many sons to be brought to glory. Mansions are lasting dwellings. Christ will be the Finisher of that of which he is the Author or Beginner; if he has prepared the place for us, he will prepare us for it. Christ is the sinner's Way to the Father and to heaven, in his person as God manifest in the flesh, in his atoning sacrifice, and as our Advocate.

He is the Truth, as fulfilling all the prophecies of a Saviour; believing this, sinners draw near through him, the Way. He is the Life, by whose life-giving Spirit the dead in sin are quickened. Nor can any man draw near to God as a Father, who is not quickened by Him as the Life, and taught by Him as the Truth, to draw near through Him as the Way.

By Christ, as the Way, our prayers go to God, and his blessings come to us; this is the Way that leads to rest, the good old Way. He is the Resurrection and the Life. All who saw Christ by faith, saw the Father in Him. In the light of Christ's doctrine, they saw God as the Father of lights; and in Christ's miracles, they saw God as the God of power.

The holiness of God shone in the spotless purity of Christ's life. We are to believe the revelation of God to man in Christ; for the works of the Redeemer manifest his own glory, and God in him.

Whatever we ask in Christ's name, he will give it to us, and it will be for our good and suitable for our state. To ask in Christ's name is to plead his merit and intercession, and to depend upon that plea.

The gift of the Spirit is a fruit of Christ's mediation, bought by his merit, and received by his intercession. The word used here signifies an advocate, counselor, monitor, and comforter. He will abide with the disciples to the end of time; his gifts and graces will encourage their hearts. The expressions used here and elsewhere plainly denote a person, and the office itself includes all the Divine perfections.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon the disciples of Christ, and not on the world. This is the favor God shows to his chosen. As the source of holiness and happiness, the Holy Spirit will abide with every believer forever.

Christ promises that he would continue his care for his disciples. I will not leave you orphans, or fatherless, for though I leave you, yet I leave you this comfort, I will come to you. I will come speedily to you at my resurrection. I will come daily to you in my Spirit, in the tokens of his love and visits of his grace.

I will come certainly at the end of time.

Only those who see Christ with an eye of faith will see him forever. The world sees him no more until his second coming, but his disciples have communion with him in his absence. These mysteries will be fully known in heaven. It is a further act of grace that they should know it and have the comfort of it.

Having Christ's commands, we must keep them. And having them in our heads, we must keep them in our hearts and lives. The surest evidence of our love to Christ is obedience to the laws of Christ. There are spiritual tokens of Christ and his love given to all believers. Where sincere love to Christ is in the heart, there will be obedience.

Love will be a commanding, constraining principle; and where love is, duty follows from a principle of gratitude. God will not only love obedient believers, but he will also take pleasure in loving them and will rest in his love for them. He will be with them as his home. These privileges are confined to those whose faith works by love, and whose love for Jesus leads them to keep his commandments.

Such are partakers of the Holy Spirit's new-creating grace.

If we would know these things for our good, we must pray for and depend on the teaching of the Holy Ghost; thus the words of Jesus will be brought to our remembrance, and many difficulties will be cleared up that are not plain to others. To all the saints, the Spirit of grace is given to be one who brings to remembrance, and to him, by faith and prayer, we should commit the keeping of what we hear and know.

Peace stands for all good, and Christ has left us all that is really and truly good, all the promised good: peace of mind from our justification before God. This Christ calls his peace, for he is himself our Peace. The peace of God widely differs from that of Pharisees or hypocrites, as is shown by its humbling and holy effects.

Christ raises the expectations of His disciples to something beyond what they thought was their greatest happiness. His time was now short; He therefore spoke extensively to them.

When we become sick and are approaching death, we may not be able to talk much with those around us; therefore, let us give whatever good counsel we have while we are in health.

Observe the prospect Christ had of an approaching conflict, not only with men but also with the powers of darkness. Satan has something in us to perplex us with, because we have all sinned; but when he sought to disturb Christ, He found nothing sinful in Him to aid his purpose.

The best evidence of our love for the Father is doing what He has commanded us. Let us rejoice in the Savior's victories over Satan, the prince of this world. Let us copy the example of His love and obedience.