`The Spirit of truth',

Posted : 7 Sep, 2012 01:32 PM

John 16:13-15

Suggested further reading: Psalm 119:17-24



`The Spirit of truth', says our Lord to his weak and half-informed followers, `shall guide you into all truth.' That promise was for our sakes, no doubt, as well as for theirs. Whatever we need to know for our present peace and sanctification, the Holy Ghost is ready to teach us. All truth in science, nature and philosophy, of course, is not included in this promise. But into all spiritual truth that is really profitable and that our minds can comprehend and bear, the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to guide us. Then let us never forget, in reading the Bible, to pray for the teaching of the Holy Ghost. We must not wonder if we find the Bible a dark and difficult book, if we do not regularly seek light from him by whom it was first inspired. In this, as in many other things, `we have not because we ask not'.



Verse 13 is meant to show the close and intimate union existing between the Spirit and the two other persons in the blessed Trinity. `He shall not speak from himself, independently of me and my Father. He shall only speak such things as he shall hear from us.'



The phrases `speak' and `hear' are both accommodations to man's weakness. The Spirit does not literally `speak' or literally `hear'. It must mean, `His teachings and guidings shall be those of one who is in the closest union with the Father and the Son.'



He shall `glorify Christ'. He shall continually teach and lead and guide disciples to make much of Christ. Any religious teaching which does not tend to exalt Christ has a fatal defect about it. It cannot be from the Spirit.



The object of verse 15 seems to be to show the entire unity between Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the revelation of truth made to man. `The Holy Spirit shall show you things concerning me, and yet things at the same time concerning the Father because all things that the Father hath are mine.'





For meditation: Are your prayers for God's help in reading the Scriptures formal or real?

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