Matthew Henry Commentary John 16:1-6

"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 hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God. And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go unto him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have spoken these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." — John 16:1-6 (ASV)

Our Lord Jesus, by giving His disciples notice of trouble, intended that the terror would not surprise them. It is possible for those who are real enemies to God's service to pretend zeal for it. This does not lessen the sin of the persecutors; wicked deeds will never be changed by attaching God's name to them.

As Jesus in His sufferings, so His followers in theirs, should look to the fulfilling of Scripture. He did not tell them sooner, because He was with them to teach, guide, and comfort them; they did not then need this promise of the Holy Spirit's presence. It will silence us to ask, 'From where do troubles come?'

It will satisfy us to ask, 'To where do they go?' for we know they work for good. It is the common fault and folly of melancholy Christians to look only on the dark side of the cloud and to turn a deaf ear to the voice of joy and gladness. What filled the disciples' hearts with sorrow was too great an affection for this present life.

Nothing more hinders our joy in God than the love of the world, and the sorrow of the world that comes from it.