nouncement tliat He sliould only be a little time longer with them, and that at last they could not come with Him, — and partly by the warning addressed to Peter, that he would deny his Master thrice. For all these reasons this little company of weak believers was disquieted and cast down and anxious. Their gracious Master saw it, and proceeded to give them en- couragement : " Let not your heart be troubled." It will be noted that He uses the singular number " your heart," not " your hearts." He means " the heart of any one of you."
Hengstenberg gives the following list of the grounds of com- fort which the chapter contains, in systematic order, which well deserves attention, (a) The first encouragement is, that to the disciples of Christ heaven is sure (v. 3, 3). (6) The second en- couragement is, that disciples have in Christ a certain way to heaven (v. 4 — 11). (c) The third encouragement is, that disci- ples need not fear that with the departure of Christ His work will cease (v. 12 — 14). {d) The fourth encouragement is, that in the absence of Christ disciples will have the help of the Spirit (v. 15 — 17). (e) The fifth encouragement is, that Christ will not leave His people for ever, but will come back again (v. 18 — 24). (/) The sixth encouragement is, that the Spirit will teach the disciples and supply their want of understand- ing when left alone (v. 25, 26). (g) Finally, the seventh en- couragement is, that the legacy of peace will be left to cheer them in their Master's absence (v. 27.) These seven points are well worthy the attention of all believers in every age, and are as useful now as when first pressed on the eleven.
Lightfoot thinks one principal cause of the disciples' trouble, was their disappointment at seeing their Jewish expectations of a temporal kingdom under a temporal Messiah failing and coming to an end.
[Ye belieDe...Ood...delieve...Me.] The Gospel words rendered " Ye believe," and " believe," in this place, admit of being dif- ferently translated ; and it is impossible to say certainly whether our English version is right. Some, as Luther, think both words should be indicative : " ye believe and ye believe." Some think both should be imperative : " believe and believe." My own opinion is decided, tliat the English version is right. It seems to me to express exactly the state of mind in which the disciples were. They did, as pious Jews, believe in God already. They needed, as young Christians, to be taught to believe more thoroughly in Christ.
Among those who think that both verbs are imperative are Cyril, Augustine, Lampe, Stier, Hengstenberg, and Alford. Among those who adhere to our English version, and make the first " believe " indicative, and the second imperative, are Eras- mus, Beza, Grotius, and Olshausen.
Let us note that faith, and specially more strong and distinct faith in Christ, is the truest remedy for trouble of heart. But