“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”
My Notes
What Does John 16:2 Mean?
Jesus warns his disciples about coming persecution: they will be put out of synagogues, and the time will come when killing them will be considered service to God. The violence will be religious — done in God's name by people who believe they are serving God.
The religious killing is the most dangerous form of persecution because it comes with theological justification. The persecutors are not acting out of malice alone. They genuinely believe they are honoring God by destroying his people.
"These things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me" (v.3) — the root cause is ignorance. Not of facts but of persons. They do not know the Father. They do not know Jesus. The ignorance of God produces violence against God's people.
Jesus tells them this in advance (v.4) so that when it happens, they will remember he warned them. The foreknowledge does not prevent the suffering. It prevents the surprise.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How can religious people genuinely believe they are serving God while persecuting his followers?
- 2.What is the difference between knowing about God and knowing God — and how does the difference produce violence?
- 3.Where do you see religious persecution disguised as service to God today?
- 4.How does Jesus warning in advance help you process persecution when it comes?
Devotional
They shall put you out of the synagogues. Excommunicated. Cast out of the religious community. The people who follow Jesus will be rejected by the very institutions that claim to serve God.
Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. The killing will be worship. The murderer will believe he is serving God. The violence will come wrapped in theology — justified, sanctified, and celebrated by the ones holding the weapon.
That is the most terrifying form of persecution: violence that believes it is righteous. Opposition that thinks it is serving God while it destroys God's people.
Because they have not known the Father, nor me. The violence comes from ignorance — not of theology but of persons. They know about God. They do not know God. The difference between knowing about and knowing is the difference between worship and murder.
Jesus tells you this in advance so that when it comes, you remember: he warned you. The surprise is removed. The pain is not — but the confusion is. When religious people persecute you in God's name, remember: Jesus said this would happen. Their ignorance of him is the cause.
The persecution is not evidence that God has abandoned you. It is evidence that the persecutors have never known him.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
They shall put you out of the synagogues,.... The Jews had made a law already, that he that confessed that Jesus was the…
Out of the synagogues - See the notes at Joh 9:22. They would excommunicate them from their religious assemblies. This…
They shall put you out of the synagogues - They will excommunicate you, and consider you as execrable, and utterly…
Christ dealt faithfully with his disciples when he sent them forth on his errands, for he told them the worst of it,…
out of the synagogues Or, out of the synagogue, i.e. excommunicate you. Comp. Joh 9:22; Joh 12:42.
yea, the time cometh…
Cross References
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