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John 16 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or Me.
John 16:2-3 HCSB
Today, most Jews in Israel are open to free speech. I have read commentaries from Messianic Jews who report that free speech is valued in Jewish communities. But, it is still true that today you may be banned from the synagogues and prohibited from returning for sharing your faith in Jesus.
Paul is a primary example of Jesus’ words. He thought he was serving God by dragging Christians from their homes and having them killed. However, in his case, the persecutor became the persecuted, and the difference seen in Paul is exactly what Jesus describes in verse 3. Saul didn’t know God. Paul did.
This should force us to pause and consider how many today throw around the name of God but have not submitted to Jesus. In some circles, proclaiming your belief in God is enough to warrant a title of “believer.” I have even heard personal testimonies from so-called Christians that never mention the name of Jesus. I am not the judge of who is saved and who isn’t, but Jesus does give us this knowledge for a reason.
Just because someone is a believer in God doesn’t mean that person actually knows God.
With this one verse, Jesus distinguishes the critical difference between believing and knowing. He then goes on to predict how we will recognize those who do know God.
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.
John 16:13-14 HCSB
The Holy Spirit fills believers and then guides them in all truth. This means that if a bunch of Spirit-filled people gather together, He will lead them in the same way, at the same time, and in the same direction. He will lead them to being more like Jesus. They won’t all look the same, but they will have the same mind, the same heart, and the same desires. In contrast, those who do not know God will not have the Holy Spirit, and their mind and heart and desires will look much different!
The truth Jesus is communicating is spiritual discernment and it is critical for the church moving forward!