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John 14:23-29
Sixth Sunday of Easter C (Gospel) May 17, 1998
John 14:23-29
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love
him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. [24] He who does not love me will
not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who
sent me.
[25] "All this I have spoken while still with you. [26] But the Counselor, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind
you of everything I have said to you. [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I
do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid.
[28] "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved
me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
[29] I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
(NIV)
John 14:18-24 (He still further comforts his disciples)
Christ promises that he would continue his care of 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. Those only that see Christ with an eye of faith, shall see him for ever: the world sees him no more till 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 take pleasure in loving them, will rest in love to them. He will be with them as his home. These privileges are confined to those whose faith worketh by love, and whose love to Jesus leads them to keep his commandments. Such are partakers of the Holy Spirit’s new-creating grace.
John 14:25-27 (He still further comforts his disciples)
Would we 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 be cleared up which are not plain to others. To all the saints, the Spirit of grace is given to be a remembrancer, and to him, by faith and prayer, we should commit the keeping of what we hear and know. Peace is put 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.
(Matthew Henry Concise Commentary)