John 14:25

KJV

¶ These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you.

KJV (with Strong's)

These things {G5023} have I spoken {G2980} unto you {G5213}, being yet present {G3306} with {G3844} you {G5213}.

Complete Jewish Bible

“I have told you these things while I am still with you.

Berean Standard Bible

All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you.

American Standard Version

These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jesus concludes a significant portion of His intimate farewell discourse with His disciples, underscoring the direct and personal nature of the profound truths He has imparted to them while still physically present. This verse serves as a pivotal summary, emphasizing the foundational importance of His immediate teachings as a preparation for His impending departure and the subsequent ministry of the Holy Spirit.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** [John 14:25](/john/14-25 "John 14:25 - Jesus' Farewell Discourse") is positioned at the close of a crucial section within Jesus' Farewell Discourse, which spans [John 13-17](/john/13 "John 13 - The Last Supper and Farewell Discourse"). Specifically, it follows a series of comforting and revelatory statements made during the Last Supper, where Jesus has addressed His impending departure, the promise of "many mansions" in His Father's house ([John 14:2](/john/14-2 "John 14:2 - Many Mansions")), His identity as "the way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life")), and the profound promise of the Holy Spirit, the "Comforter" or "Advocate" ([John 14:16-17](/john/14-16-17 "John 14:16-17 - The Promise of the Holy Spirit")). The phrase "These things" in verse 25 explicitly refers back to all the teachings, assurances, and commands given in [John 14:1-24](/john/14-1-24 "John 14:1-24 - Jesus Comforts His Disciples"), setting the stage for the Spirit's future role in bringing these very words to remembrance and deeper understanding ([John 14:26](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Spirit's Teaching Role")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This discourse takes place in the intimate setting of the Upper Room, likely on the eve of Passover, a time of profound religious and cultural significance for the Jewish people. The disciples, having spent three years in constant companionship with Jesus, were accustomed to His direct, personal instruction. The concept of a master's "farewell discourse" was not uncommon in the ancient world, often serving as a final testament or ethical will, imparting crucial wisdom and instructions to disciples before a leader's departure. Jesus' discourse, however, transcends typical human farewells, as it is imbued with divine authority and prophetic insight into His death, resurrection, and the coming of the Spirit. The disciples, though struggling to grasp the full implications of His departure, were receiving foundational truths that would sustain them through the imminent crisis of His crucifixion and empower them for their future mission.
* **Key Themes:** [John 14:25](/john/14-25 "John 14:25 - Jesus' Farewell Discourse") contributes significantly to several key themes within John's Gospel and the broader Farewell Discourse. Firstly, it highlights the **Authority and Sufficiency of Jesus' Teaching**. His words are not mere suggestions but foundational truths, directly delivered and divinely authoritative, forming the bedrock of the disciples' faith and future ministry. Secondly, the verse underscores the theme of **Preparation for Absence and Future Presence**. Jesus' statement "being yet present with you" subtly but powerfully foreshadows His impending physical departure, while simultaneously preparing the disciples for a new form of His presence through the Holy Spirit, who will "abide with you forever" ([John 14:16](/john/14-16 "John 14:16 - The Spirit Abides Forever")). Finally, it emphasizes the **Interconnectedness of Jesus' Words and the Holy Spirit's Work**. Jesus' teachings are not isolated, but are the very content that the Spirit will later illuminate, remind, and empower the disciples to understand and proclaim, as promised in [John 14:26](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Spirit's Teaching Role") and [John 16:13-14](/john/16-13-14 "John 16:13-14 - The Spirit Guides into All Truth").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **things (Greek, _taûta'_):** This demonstrative pronoun, meaning "these things," refers comprehensively to the entire body of teaching, comfort, and revelation Jesus has just delivered in the preceding verses of [John 14](/john/14 "John 14 - Jesus Comforts His Disciples"). It encompasses His promises regarding the Father's house, His identity as the unique path to God, the power of prayer in His name, and crucially, the imminent coming of the Holy Spirit. The use of "these" emphasizes the specific, immediate, and vital nature of the discourse just concluded.
* **spoken (Greek, _laléō'_):** Derived from a verb meaning "to talk" or "to utter words," this term highlights the direct, personal, and verbal communication from Jesus to His disciples. The perfect tense in Greek ("I have spoken") indicates a completed action with enduring results. It signifies that these truths are not merely suggestions but established, authoritative declarations that carry lasting weight and validity, forming a permanent record for His followers.
* **present (Greek, _ménō'_):** This verb means "to stay," "abide," "continue," or "remain." In this context, it emphasizes Jesus' physical, tangible presence with His disciples at the very moment of speaking. It contrasts with His impending physical departure, underscoring the immediacy and intimacy of the instruction. The implication is that these profound truths were delivered face-to-face, allowing for direct interaction and personal impartation, before a new phase of His relationship with them would begin through the Spirit.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"These things have I spoken unto you":** This clause serves as a summary statement, pointing back to the preceding teachings in [John 14:1-24](/john/14-1-24 "John 14:1-24 - Jesus Comforts His Disciples"). Jesus is affirming that the profound truths about His Father's house, His identity as the Way, the promise of the Spirit, and the power of prayer have been clearly and directly communicated to His disciples. The perfect tense of "spoken" (λελάληκα) emphasizes that these words are not fleeting but are established, completed declarations with lasting significance, forming a foundational bedrock for their faith.
* **"being yet present with you.":** This phrase highlights the crucial context of the discourse: Jesus' physical presence with them. It underscores the intimacy and directness of the instruction, given while He was still tangible and accessible. This statement also subtly foreshadows His imminent physical departure through crucifixion and ascension. The implication is that while His physical presence is temporary, the words He has spoken are eternal and will be recalled and illuminated by the Holy Spirit after He is gone, ensuring their continued relevance and power.

#### Literary Devices
In [John 14:25](/john/14-25 "John 14:25 - Jesus' Farewell Discourse"), Jesus employs **Summary** and **Foreshadowing**. The opening phrase, "These things have I spoken unto you," acts as a concise **Summary** of the extensive and profound teachings He has just delivered in the preceding verses of [John 14](/john/14 "John 14 - Jesus Comforts His Disciples"). This rhetorical device allows Jesus to draw a clear conclusion to a segment of His discourse, emphasizing the totality and importance of what has just been said. Simultaneously, the phrase "being yet present with you" functions as poignant **Foreshadowing**. While stating a current reality, it subtly but powerfully hints at His imminent physical departure. This prepares the disciples, and the reader, for the transition from Jesus' physical presence to His spiritual presence through the Holy Spirit, a central theme of the Farewell Discourse. The directness of the statement also carries an element of **Emphasis**, highlighting the unique privilege the disciples had in receiving these truths directly from the Master before His physical absence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 14:25 profoundly connects the authority of Jesus' direct teaching with the future work of the Holy Spirit, establishing a continuity between Christ's earthly ministry and the ongoing life of the Church. It underscores the divine origin and enduring nature of Jesus' words, which are not merely human wisdom but foundational truths from God Himself. The verse implies that while Jesus' physical presence was temporary, His words are eternal and form the basis for all future understanding and spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit, as promised in the very next verse, will not bring new revelation that contradicts Jesus' teaching, but will rather illuminate, remind, and empower the disciples to fully grasp and apply what Jesus has already spoken. This highlights the Spirit's role as the divine interpreter and enabler of Christ's truth, ensuring that the church continues to build on the unshakeable foundation laid by Jesus Himself.

* [John 14:26](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Holy Spirit Teaches All Things")
* [John 16:13-14](/john/16-13-14 "John 16:13-14 - The Spirit Guides into All Truth")
* [Luke 24:44-45](/luke/24-44-45 "Luke 24:44-45 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 14:25 invites contemporary believers to reflect deeply on the immense privilege and profound responsibility of having access to the very words of Jesus Christ recorded in Scripture. Just as the disciples received foundational truths directly from the Master, we too are beneficiaries of His direct instruction, preserved for us through the inspired Word of God. This verse challenges us to cherish these divine utterances, recognizing their timeless authority and transformative power. It reminds us that our spiritual journey is not about seeking new, esoteric revelations, but about diligently studying, meditating upon, and applying the truths Jesus has already spoken. Furthermore, it encourages us to rely on the Holy Spirit, who was promised to illuminate these words, bringing them to remembrance and guiding us into deeper understanding and obedience, just as He did for the first disciples. Our walk with Christ is a continuous process of engaging with His spoken word, empowered by His abiding Spirit.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "things" has Jesus spoken to you through His Word that you need to meditate on more deeply today?**
* **How does the understanding that Jesus spoke these words "being yet present" with His disciples impact your appreciation for the directness and intimacy of His teaching?**
* **In what ways do you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you remember, understand, and apply the teachings of Jesus in your daily life?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of Jesus saying "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you" at this point in the Farewell Discourse?**

Answer: The significance of [John 14:25](/john/14-25 "John 14:25 - Jesus' Farewell Discourse") lies in its dual function as both a summary and a transition. Firstly, it acts as a summary, explicitly referring back to all the profound truths, comforts, and commands Jesus has just imparted to His disciples in [John 14:1-24](/john/14-1-24 "John 14:1-24 - Jesus Comforts His Disciples"). This emphasizes the direct, personal, and authoritative nature of His teaching. He is affirming that these are not indirect messages or future revelations, but established words delivered face-to-face. Secondly, the phrase "being yet present with you" serves as a crucial transition and subtle foreshadowing. It acknowledges His current physical presence, which is about to end, and prepares the disciples for His imminent departure. This sets the stage for the promise of the Holy Spirit in the very next verse ([John 14:26](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Spirit's Teaching Role")), who will continue Jesus' work by bringing these very words to their remembrance and guiding them into all truth after He is physically gone. Thus, the verse highlights the foundational importance of His direct teachings while also pointing to the new era of the Spirit's ministry.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[John 14:25](/john/14-25 "John 14:25 - Jesus' Farewell Discourse") finds its Christ-centered fulfillment not merely in the historical fact of Jesus' physical presence, but in the ongoing reality of His spiritual presence and the enduring power of His Word through the Holy Spirit. While Jesus' earthly ministry involved direct, face-to-face instruction, His ascension did not sever His connection with His disciples; rather, it inaugurated a new, more pervasive form of presence. The "things" He spoke while "yet present" are now preserved in the inspired Scriptures, forming the very foundation of Christian faith and practice. The fulfillment comes as the promised [Holy Spirit, the Comforter](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Holy Spirit, the Comforter"), takes these very words of Christ and illuminates them, bringing them to remembrance and guiding believers into all truth ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit Guides into All Truth")). Thus, Christ's teaching, though delivered in a specific historical moment, remains eternally relevant and powerfully active through the Spirit, who enables us to understand, obey, and live out the truths spoken by our ascended Lord. This continuity ensures that Jesus, the [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), continues to speak to His Church, fulfilling His promise to be [with us always, even unto the end of the world](/matthew/28-20 "Matthew 28:20 - The Great Commission").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 17:6

¶ I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

John 17:8

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

John 13:19

Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am [he].

John 16:12

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

John 15:11

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.

John 16:1

¶ These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

John 16:4

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.