Expository Thoughts (continued)
presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, that is essential to a high standard of Christianity. What we should all desire and long for is not Christ's body literally touched with our hands and received into our mouths, but Christ dwelling spiritually in our hearts by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Technical Notes:
1. These things I have spoken to you, that ye should not be offended. 2. They shall put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he does God service. 3. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor me. 4. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5. But now I go away to him who sent me, and none of you ask me, "Where are you going?" 6. But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you.
1.—[These things...not be offended.] The chapter we now begin is a direct continuation of the last chapter, without break or pause. Our Lord's object in this first verse is to cheer and revive the minds of the Apostles and to prevent them being discouraged by the persecution