Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. ChrysostomVer. 24 . “He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings; and the word which ye hear is notMine, but the Father’s which sent Me.”“So that he that heareth not these sayings not only doth not love Me, but neither doth he lovethe Father.” For if this is the sure proof of love, the hearing the commandments, and these are ofthe Father, he that heareth them loveth not the Son only, but the Father also. “And how is the word‘thine’ and ‘not thine’?” This means, “I speak not without the Father, nor say anything of Myselfcontrary to what seemeth good to Him.”Ver. 25 . “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.”Since these sayings were not clear, and since some they did not understand, and doubted aboutthe greater number, in order that they might not be again confused, and say, “What commands?”He released them from all their perplexity, saying,Ver. 26 . “The Comforter, whom the Father shall send in My Name, He shall teach you.” 2157“Perhaps these things are not clear to you now, but ‘He’ 2158 is a clear teacher of them.” Andthe, “remaineth with you” ( ver. 17 ), is the expression of One implying that Himself will depart.Then that they may not be grieved, He saith, that as long as He should remain with them and theSpirit should not come, they would be unable to comprehend anything great or sublime. And thisHe said to prepare them to bear nobly His departure, as that which was to be the cause of greatblessings to them. He continually calleth Him “Comforter,” because of the afflictions which thenpossessed them. And since even after hearing these things they were troubled, when they thoughtof the sorrows, the wars, His departure, see how He calmeth them again by saying,Ver. 27 . “Peace I leave to you.” 2159All but saying, “What are ye harmed by the trouble of the world, provided ye be at peace with2160Me? For this peace is not of the same kind as that. The one is external, is often mischievous andunprofitable, and is no advantage to those who possess it; but I give you peace of such a kind thatye be at peace with one another, which thing rendereth you stronger.” And because He said again,“I leave,” which was the expression of One departing, and enough to confound them, therefore Heagain saith,“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”Seest thou that they were affected partly by loving affection, partly by fear?Ver. 28 . “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye lovedMe, ye would rejoice because I said, I go unto the Father; for My Father is greater than I.”[4.] And what joy would this bring to them? What consolation? What then mean the words?They did not yet know concerning the Resurrection, nor had they right opinion concerning Him;(for how could they, who did not even know that He would rise again?) but they thought that theFather was mighty. He saith then, that “If ye are fearful for Me, as not able to defend Myself, andif ye are not confident that I shall see you again after the Crucifixion, yet when ye heard that I goto the Father, ye ought then to have rejoiced because I go away to One that is greater, and able toundo all dangers.” “Ye have heard how I said unto you.” Why hath He put this? Because, He saith,2157Ver. 26 . “ But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things,and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. ”2158ἐ κεῖνος2159Ver. 27 . “ Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you, ” N.T.2160πρὸς414