sentence is to remind the disciples of the authority and dignity of our Lord's sayings and commandments. They are not His words only, but His Father's. He that despises them despises the Father, and He that honors them by obedience honors the Father.
25. — [These things. ..spoken.. .present with you.'] Our Lord seems here to begin to wind up the first part of His discourse to a conclusion. Whether " these things " mean only the things He spoke this evening, or all the things He had taught them dur- ing His ministry, admits of doubt. I rather incline to the view that the expression must be taken in the widest sense : " These and many other things I have spoken to you, while abiding and dwelling among you. Your hearts are troubled, perhaps, by the thought that you cannot remember them, and do not un- derstand them. Here there are some grounds of comfort."
2G. — [Bat... Comforter... Holy Ghost. ..my name.] Here comes one more grand consolation : " When I am gone, the Holy Gfliost, the promised x\dvocate, whom the Father will send on my ac- count, through my intercession, and to glorify Me, shall supply all your need, and provide for all your wants."
Let us note how distinctly the Holy Spirit is spoken of here as a Person, and not an inHuence.
Let us note how the Father sends the Spirit, but also sends Him in Christ's name, and with a special reference to Christ's work.
[He shall teach you all tilings.] The first word here rendered " He " is unmistakably applicative to none but a person, being a masculine pronoun. The " teaching " here promised must mean, firstly, that fuller and more complete instruction which the Holy Ghost evidently gave to believers after our Lord's as- 'cension. No one can read the "Acts " without seeing that the eleven ^ere different men after the day of Pentecost ; and saw and knew and understood things of which they were very ignor- ant before. But, secondly, the " teaching " most probably in- cludes all that teaching and enlightening which the Spirit im- parts to all true believers in every age. Light is the first thing we need, and He gives it. It is His special office to " open the eyes of our understandings."
The expression " all things " must plainly be limited to all things needful to be known by the soul, and does not include all knowledge of every kind.
[And bring all things.. .remembrance.. .told you.] This is a special consolation for the weak memories of the troubled dis- ciples. Our Lord promises that the Spirit would bring back to their memories the many lessons, both doctrinal and practical, which they had heard from Him but forgotten. This was a very needful promise. How often we find it recorded that the disciples did not understand our Lord's sayings and doings a*
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