Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 16:27
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
27. himself ] Without My intercession.
loveth you ] On the difference between the two Greek verbs for ‘love’ see on Joh 11:5. It is the more emotional word that is used here in both cases. At first sight it appears the less appropriate to express God’s love for the disciples: but the point is that it is a Father’s love, it flows spontaneously from a natural relationship as distinct from discriminating friendship.
because ye have loved me ] Both pronouns are emphatic and are next one another in the Greek, pointing to the closeness of the relationship; because ye Me have loved. Note the ‘because;’ it is their love for Christ which wins the Father’s love (Joh 14:21; Joh 14:23).
have loved have believed ] Both perfects signify what has been and still continues. No argument can be drawn from the order of the verbs as to love preceding faith: ‘have loved’ naturally comes first on account of ‘loveth’ immediately preceding. ‘Love begets love’ is true both between man and man and between God and man. ‘Faith begets faith’ cannot have any meaning between God and man.
from God ] The better reading is, from the Father (see on Joh 1:6, Joh 15:26). It was specially because they recognised Him as the Son sent from the Father, and not merely as a Prophet sent from God (Joh 1:6), that they won the Father’s love.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See Joh 14:21, Joh 14:23.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
I need not tell you (to beget in you a confidence that your prayers should be heard) that I will pray to the Father for you; for my Father himself hath such a love for you, that you may from thence alone conclude that he will hear you. And though my Fathers love to you be an everlasting love, which hath no cause in the creature; yet as to the manifestations of my Fathers love, they are further drawn forth by the love which he seeth you bear to me, and by your receiving me, who am the Messiah, and came forth from God, to perform the work of mans redemption.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
27. For the Father himself lovethyou, because ye have loved meThis love of theirs is that whichis called forth by God’s eternal love in the gift of His Son mirroredin the hearts of those who believe, and resting on His dear Son.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For the Father himself loveth you,…. The Father loved them as well, and as much as the Son did, and of himself too, without any merit or motive in them: he loved them from everlasting, and had given proofs of it in time, in the gift of his Son to them, and for them; and in calling them by his grace; and therefore being thus strongly affected to them, they might depend upon a ready and speedy answer from him, as might be best for his glory, and their good.
Because ye have loved me; not that their love to Christ was the cause of the Father’s love to them; but, on the contrary, the Father’s love to them was the cause of their love to Christ; and therefore as the cause is known by its effect, they might be assured of the Father’s love to them by their love to Christ; for if the Father had not loved them, they had never loved God, nor Christ; but since they did love Christ, it was a clear case the Father loved them: and this their love is joined with faith;
and have believed that I came out from God; being sent by him, and am no impostor, but the true Messiah that was to come: faith in Christ, and love to him, go together; where the one is, there is the other; faith works by love; they are both the gifts of God’s grace, and the fruits and effects of his everlasting love; and those who are possessed of them may be firmly persuaded of their interest therein.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Loveth (). Present active indicative of , the word for warm and friendly love, here used of God’s love for the disciples, while in 3:16 occurs of God’s love for the world.
Ye have loved me (). Perfect active indicative of , “loved and still love me warmly.”
And have believed (). Perfect active indicative again. Recall the exhortation in 14:1.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Loveth [] . As sons, with the love of natural affection. See on 5 20. The same verb in the following clause, of the love of the disciples for Christ.
From God. Some editors read, from the Father. Para, from beside.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For the Father himself loveth you,” (autos gar ho pater philei humas) “For the Father himself loves you all,” hence you may know that He will respond to your prayers to Me, as I also carry them to Him, Joh 3:16. He simply assures them and believers today that their prayers will be heard and their need met, Php_4:19. Their prayers would be answered on the basis of both His intercession for them and the Father’s love.
2) “Because ye have loved me,” (hoti humeis eme pephilekate) “Because you have loved me, as friends,” Joh 14:21; Joh 14:23. All our prayers and deeds are vain, except and until Jesus approves them to the Father, as being in His name, Col 3:17; Act 4:12.
3) “And have believed that I came out from God.” (kai pepisteukate hoti ego para tou theou ekselthon) “And you all have believed that I came forth out of and away from the Father,” and am His Son, Joh 3:16; Gal 4:4-5; 2Co 8:9; 1Ti 3:16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
27. Because you have loved me. These words remind us that the only bond of our union with God is, to be united to Christ; and we are united to him by a faith which is not reigned, but which springs from sincere affection, which he describes by the name of love; for no man believes purely in Christ who does not cordially embrace him, and, therefore, by this word he has well expressed the power and nature of faith. But if it is only when we have loved Christ that God begins to love us, it follows that the commencement of salvation is from ourselves, because we have anticipated the grace of God. Numerous passages of Scripture, on the other hand, are opposed to this statement. The promise of God is, I will cause them to love me; and John says, Not that we first loved Him, (105) (1Jo 4:10.) It would be superfluous to collect many passages; for nothing is more certain than this doctrine, that the Lord calleth those things which are not, (Rom 4:17) raises the dead, (Luk 7:22,) unites himself to those who were strangers to him, (Eph 2:12,) makes hearts of flesh out of hearts of stone, (Eze 36:26,) manifests himself to those who do not seek him, (Isa 65:1; Rom 10:20.) I reply, God loves men in a secret way, before they are called, if they are among the elect; for he loves his own before they are created; but, as they are not yet reconciled, they are justly accounted enemies of God, as Paul speaks,
When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, (Rom 5:10.)
On this ground it is said that we are loved by God, when we love Christ; because we have the pledge of the fatherly love of Him from whom we formerly recoiled as our offended Judge.
(105) Quoting from memory, our Author has mingled two passages The first is, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, (1Jo 4:10😉 and the second is, We love him, because he first loved us, (1Jo 4:19.) — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(27) For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me.Comp. Notes on Joh. 14:21; Joh. 14:23. The introduction of the thought again here reminds us that, although in the fulness of the higher spiritual life there is communion between the Father and the human spirit, because the Father Himself ever loveth the heart which can receive His love, this power to receive the love of the Father is itself the result of loving the Son, who has revealed Him. Our Lord is leading them to the fuller truths of spiritual communion with God, and even tells them that this will be independent of mediation; but the very words which tell them that it will be independent of mediation, tell them that all depends upon His own mediation and the manifestation of the love of God in His own person.
And have believed that I came out from God.The reading is uncertain. Several of the better MSS. read, . . . that I came forth from the Father. (Comp. the first words of the next verse and Joh. 13:3.) The perfect tenses represent their love and faith as completed, and continuing in the present. It is striking that the order of the words makes faith follow love. This order may be chosen to mark emphatically the connection between the Fathers love for the disciples and their love for the Son; but it also suggests that their convictions were the result of having their hearts opened by love so that they received the truth.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. Father loveth you The love of the Father precedes even the gift of the Son, and was the reason of that gift. Joh 3:16. But here is an additional love of the Father for these apostles, in consequence of their love to Christ. And this love is from the Father himself; originating freely and earnestly from him.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 1705
THE OBJECTS OF THE FATHERS LOVE
Joh 16:27. The Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came nut from God.
THE atonement and intercession of Christ are doubtless the grounds of a Christians hope, and the richest source of his comforts: but much consolation also may be derived from the consideration of the Fathers love; nor do we understand the Gospel aright, till we see that Christ himself was the gift of the Fathers love, and that every blessing which we receive through Christ was prepared for us in the eternal counsels of the Father. Our Lord, solicitous to comfort his Disciples previous to his departure from them, directed their views unto the Father, assuring them, that, while they prayed to the Father in his name, they should find acceptance and support; and this too, not merely in consequence of his intercession, but also in consequence of the love which the Father himself bore towards them, In discoursing upon his words, we shall speak of,
I.
The objects of the Fathers love
The description which our Lord gives of his own Disciples will characterize all his faithful followers to the end of time
They love the Lord Jesus Christ
[There is not a real Christian in the universe who does not esteem the Lord Jesus above every other being, desire him more than thousands of silver and gold, and delight in him as the only source of true happiness. To love him more, and to serve him better, is the daily labour of his soul, and the very summit of his ambition.]
They believe in him
[True Christians do not merely assent to this proposition, That Jesus is the Messiah; but they most cordially acquiesce in his appointment to that office; they trust altogether in his mediatorial work; and they seek to receive out of his fulness the blessings which he was sent to communicate.]
All who are of this description are, for that very reason, objects of the Fathers love
[By the exercise of faith and love, they honour the Lord Jesus Christ in the world; and in so doing they honour the Father also [Note: Joh 5:23.]: on this account the Father loves and honours them. We do not mean to intimate, that their graces merit the Divine favour (for their best righteousnesses are as filthy rags [Note: Isa 64:6.]); or that their graces are the spring and source of the Fathers love (for Gods love was from everlasting [Note: Jer 31:3.], and was exercised by him in a perfectly free and sovereign manner): but we say, that their exercise of faith and love is the occasion of Gods manifesting his love to them. Abels offering of a lamb, in token of his dependence on that Lamb of God which was to be slain in due time, was the occasion of Gods testifying his acceptance in a visible manner; and God justified his apparent partiality, by declaring this act to have been the ground of the preference he had shewn to Abel [Note: Gen 4:4-7. Heb 11:4.]. When Abraham also had offered up his son, God made his faith and obedience the occasion and the ground of manifesting his love to Abraham [Note: Gen 22:16-17.]. The Scriptures uniformly speak the same language [Note: Psa 91:14-16.]; nor are we in danger of erring, provided we discriminate between the meritorious ground on which Gods favours are secured, and the particular occasion on which his love may be manifested.]
If we believe that any are so distinguished by the Father we cannot but wish to know,
II.
The manner in which he displays his love towards them
We might easily trace this part of our subject in the experience of those to whom the words of the text were immediately addressed; but, as it is of general importance, we shall rather treat it in a way that is alike applicable to all:
1.
He watches over them by his providence
[The dearest of Gods children may appear to others, perhaps also to themselves, to be forsaken of God. But the Fathers eye is ever upon them for good, and runneth to and fro throughout the whole earth, to interpose effectually in their behalf [Note: 2Ch 16:9.]. They may be suffered to want for a season, in order that they may be stirred up to seek relief from him: but they shall assuredly be supplied with every thing that is needful for them [Note: Psa 34:10.]. They may experience many deep and heavy afflictions, but not one which shall not ultimately work fur their good [Note: Rom 8:28].]
2.
He keeps them by his grace
[God is not an unconcerned spectator of his peoples conflicts. He shields their heads in the day of battle. If they fall, he raises them up; if they be wounded, he heals them; if they faint, he renews their strength [Note: Psa 146:7-8.]. He will not endue them with such a degree of grace as shall supersede the need of vigilance and exertion; nor will he commit to them a stock that shall suffice for months or days: but he will give them grace to help in the time of need [Note: Heb 4:16.]; and that grace shall be sufficient for them. Thus will he secure them from the destruction which they fear, and make them more than conquerors, through Him that loved them [Note: Rom 8:37.].]
3.
He comforts them by his presence
[Who can express the consolations which God sometimes pours into the souls of those who wait upon him? They have been weeping perhaps under a sense of sin, or lamenting a state of spiritual darkness; and behold, God reveals himself unto them: their light rises in obscurity, and their darkness becomes as the noon-day. Often will God manifest himself to them as he does not unto the world; he will give them a spirit of adoption, whereby they shall cry with confidence, Abba, Father; and will so shed abroad his love in their hearts, that they shall have an earnest of their inheritance, and a foretaste of the heavenly glory. This is promised by God himself to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and is actually experienced by many who can attest his fidelity [Note: Joh 14:21; Joh 14:23.].]
Address
1.
Those who are destitute of love to Christ, and of faith in him
[If a mere profession of Christianity be a sufficient proof of our faith and love, we may spare ourselves the trouble of addressing any as though they were destitute of those graces. But if none truly love Christ or believe in him, except they who are altogether devoted to him in heart and life, then the persons we are addressing will be found to constitute the greater part, we fear, of almost every congregation. And what shall we say to such persons? Shall we address them in the words of our text, The Father himself loveth you? Would to God we could! But there is not one amongst you so ignorant, as not to know, that such an assertion would be false. Let your own consciences judge: Can God love those who neglect and despise his dear Son? Let the Scriptures determine. Does not St. Paul say, If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha [Note: 1Co 16:22.]? Be assured that God cannot be your Father: for our Lord says expressly, If God were your Father, ye would love me [Note: Joh 8:42.]. Be assured too, that if you die as you are, you must perish for ever; for Christ says again, If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins [Note: Joh 8:24.]. Repent ye then of all your ingratitude and unbelief, and turn to your strong-hold, as prisoners of hope; begin to live by faith in the Son of God; and delight yourselves in him now, that ye may be meet to enjoy him in a better world.]
2.
Those to whom Christ is precious
[Thanks be to God! there is a little flock that hear the voice of the good Shepherd, and that follow his steps. Think then, ye who love the Lord, how greatly ye are honoured, how highly ye are privileged; the Father himself loveth you! To say that all good and holy men loved you, or that all the angels in heaven loved you, would be a rich blessing: but to be loved by the Creator of men and angels, to be loved by the Father himself, O! who can estimate this blessing? It is true, that the very thing which causes God to love you, will cause the blind and the wicked world to hate you [Note: Joh 15:19.]: but why should you regard the hatred and contempt of men, if you are owned and approved of your God? Let them curse, provided your God condescend to bless. And if your love at any time be ready to wax cold through the abounding of iniquity around you, remember that the very thing which heightens mans resentment, will call forth the manifestations of Gods favour; and that when your enemies shall want a drop of water to cool their tongue, you shall be drinking of those rivers of pleasure which are at Gods right hand for evermore.
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
Ver. 27. For the Father himself loveth you ] We say majesty and love cannot dwell together. Non bene conveniunt, nec in una sede morantur maiestas et amor: because love is the abasing of the soul to all services. But it is otherwise in God; majesty and love meet in his heart; so that of his own free accord he will give us anything we ask, and as it were prevent a mediator, crowning his own graces in us.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
loveth. Greek. phileo. App-135.
believed. App-150.
from = from beside. Greek. para. App-104. Compare Joh 8:42; Joh 13:3; Joh 17:8.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 16:27. , Himself) of His own accord.- , loveth you) and therefore hearkens to you.-, because) This gives the reason why the Father loves and hears them.-, ) ye have taken hold of (embraced) Me with love and faith. Love is both posterior and prior to faith. For they mutually sustain each other. Nay, faith itself imbibes love and the embracing of the heavenly gift. In this passage love is put first, in order that these words may the better answer to one another, viz. loveth, ye have loved. Ye believe that I came out from God. These words the Lord puts into the mouth of the disciples, in order that there may be echoed back by them the words, We believe that Thou earnest forth from God, in Joh 16:30.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
the Father: Joh 14:21, Joh 14:23, Joh 17:23, Joh 17:26, Zep 3:17, Heb 12:6, Jud 1:20, Jud 1:21, Rev 3:9, Rev 3:19
because: Joh 8:42, Joh 21:15-17, Mat 10:37, 1Co 16:22, 2Co 5:14, Eph 6:24, 1Pe 1:8, 1Jo 4:19
and have: Joh 16:30, Joh 3:13, Joh 7:29, Joh 17:7, Joh 17:8, Joh 17:25, Rom 8:3, 1Co 15:47, Gal 4:4, 1Ti 1:15
Reciprocal: Deu 7:13 – he will love Psa 91:14 – set Psa 146:8 – loveth Pro 8:17 – I love Isa 43:4 – I Have Joh 3:31 – he that cometh Joh 11:5 – loved Joh 13:3 – and that Joh 14:16 – I will Joh 17:9 – pray for Rom 8:34 – who also Rom 8:39 – love Rom 9:25 – beloved Eph 4:9 – he also
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
The love of the Father for the apostles of his Son, would be a sufficient motive for sending the Spirit upon them for their guidance.