John 14:1–7

Verse 1. After having answered the questions of Saint Peter, Jesus again addresses himself to his disciples, and bids them not to be afflicted or troubled, at what he says to them. Many Greeks and Latins begin this chap. thus: Jesus said to his disciples, let not your hearts be troubled. Saint John Chrysostom—Euthym. Leont. Theophyl. Theodor. and so forth agree, that our Saviour wished to encourage his apostles, who were so much troubled, because he had said, that Peter should deny him. They thought within themselves, if Peter, who is the strongest, and most resolute amongst us, shall so far forget himself, as to deny his master, what will become of us? Jesus seeing their anxiety, tells them not to be troubled; but to believe in him, and in his words, for he had said, that he would not lose any, whom his Father had given him; (John chapter 6, verse 39) and that whosoever should believe in him, should have life everlasting. chapter 3, verse 15.—Let not your heart be troubled. Christ here begins those incomparable discourses to his apostles, which are set down in the four next chapters. His sufferings and death now approaching, he forewarns them not to be troubled. You believe in God, and put your trust in him; believe also, and trust in me, no less than in him. Witham.

Verse 2. In my Father’s house. He does not say of your Father: for though God be the Father of all by creation, and of the just, by the grace of adoption; yet Christ in several places, calls him his Father, in a quite different sense, that is, as he was his eternal Father, as the ancient interpreters observe. Witham.—These many mansions signify different degrees of glory in heaven. Saint Jerome l. ii. adv. Jovin.

Verse 3. I will come again: not only by rising the third day, but at your death, and at the day of judgment: that where I am, you also may be, and may receive the reward of eternal happiness in my kingdom.

Verse 4. And whither I go, you know, and the way you know. Thomas replied, we know neither. Jesus saith to him, I am the way. They knew it says Saint Augustine (tract. 69) but they did not know, that they knew it: they knew their Master, Jesus Christ, and he was the way: they also knew, that is, believed, the kingdom of heaven, but they knew not, that he was returning thither: for as yet their imaginations were upon a temporal kingdom.—I am the way, by my doctrine and example: I am the Truth, by my promises; and I am Life, by the graces I offer and give. Witham.

Verse 7. If you had known me, you would surely [1] have known my Father also. That is, (says Saint John Chrysostom S. Cyril, and so forth) did you know me to be his true, and eternal Son, you would always know him to be the Father from all eternity. And from henceforth, especially from the coming of the Holy Ghost, you shall know him with a more perfect knowledge. And you have seen him, not as to the divine nature: in this manner, you have neither seen him, nor me. But,