John 16:1

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

These things {G5023} have I spoken {G2980} unto you {G5213}, that {G3363} ye should {G4624} not {G3363} be offended {G4624}.

“I have told you these things so that you won’t be caught by surprise.

“I have told you these things so that you will not fall away.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble.

Commentary

John 16:1 serves as an important transitional verse in Jesus' Farewell Discourse, spoken to His disciples in the upper room just before His crucifixion. In this verse, Jesus reveals His purpose for having previously spoken of difficult truths: to prepare His followers for future challenges and prevent them from stumbling in their faith.

Context

The phrase "These things have I spoken unto you" refers directly to the extensive teachings Jesus delivered in the preceding chapters (John 13-15). This discourse covered vital topics such as His impending departure (John 13:33), the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and most significantly, the reality of the world's hatred and persecution they would face as His followers. Jesus knew that the opposition would be severe, potentially leading to disillusionment or a loss of faith among His disciples. By forewarning them, He aimed to inoculate them against surprise and despair.

Key Themes

  • Divine Foreknowledge and Compassion: Jesus, knowing the future hardships His disciples would endure, lovingly prepared them. This demonstrates His deep care and desire to equip them for the trials ahead.
  • Preparation for Persecution: The primary purpose of His warnings was to brace them for the inevitable opposition from the world. Understanding that suffering is part of the Christian walk can strengthen faith rather than diminish it.
  • Preservation of Faith: The ultimate goal was that they "should not be offended." Jesus sought to anchor their faith so firmly in Him that external pressures would not cause them to stumble or abandon their commitment.

Linguistic Insights

The key word in this verse is "offended," which comes from the Greek word skandalizō (σκανδαλίζω). This term literally means "to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, over which one may fall." In a spiritual sense, it means to cause someone to stumble, to lose faith, to fall into sin, or to be disillusioned and turn away from the truth. Jesus' teaching here is a proactive measure to remove any potential "stumbling blocks" that future persecution might present, ensuring His disciples remain steadfast.

Practical Application

John 16:1 offers profound relevance for believers today. Just as Jesus prepared His first disciples, His words continue to prepare us for the realities of living in a world often hostile to the Gospel. Understanding that trials and opposition are not signs of God's absence or disapproval, but rather an expected part of following Christ, can strengthen our resolve. This verse encourages us to:

  • Expect Challenges: Recognize that faith will be tested. Jesus' warnings help us not to be surprised or disheartened when difficulties arise (1 Peter 4:12).
  • Stand Firm: By being forewarned, we can be forearmed. Knowing that Jesus Himself predicted these things helps us to remain faithful and not be "offended" when persecution or hardship comes.
  • Trust in Divine Providence: Jesus' foreknowledge assures us that God is sovereign over all circumstances, even the most challenging. His warnings are not meant to discourage but to build resilience and deepen our trust in His plan.

In essence, Jesus speaks these things to us so that our faith may not be shaken, but rather deepened through the understanding that He has prepared us for all that lies ahead.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Peter 2:8 (14 votes)

    And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

  • Matthew 13:21 (11 votes)

    Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

  • Matthew 26:31 (11 votes)

    ¶ Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

  • Matthew 26:33 (11 votes)

    Peter answered and said unto him, Though all [men] shall be offended because of thee, [yet] will I never be offended.

  • John 16:4 (6 votes)

    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.

  • John 15:18 (5 votes)

    If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.

  • John 15:27 (5 votes)

    And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.