John Chapter 16, Verse 1
From BibleWiki
1: ταυτα λελαληκα υμιν ινα μη σκανδαλισθητε
1: These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be
offended.
1: These things have I spoken to you things have I spoken to you that
you may not be scandalized.
These things. The things spoken in the two previous chapters, promising them divine aid and directing them in the path of duty.
Be offended. For the meaning of the word offend, See "Mt 5:29".
It means here the same as to stumble or fall -- that is to apostatize. He proceeds immediately to tell them, what he had often apprised them of, that they would be subject to great persecutions and trials. He was also himself about to be removed by death. They were to go into an unfriendly world. All these things were in themselves greatly fitted to shake their faith, and to expose them to the danger of apostasy. Comp. Lk 24:21. If they had not been apprise of this, if they had not known why Jesus was about to die, and if they had not been encouraged with the promised aid of the Holy Ghost, they would have sunk under these trials, and forsaken him and his cause.
