If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but as it is they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done works among them that no one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But in order that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, ‘They hated me without cause.’ 26 “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. 27 And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Jesus contrasted the themes of love and hatred. He had previously told the disciples. “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me (Jn. 14:24).' Jesus explained to his disciples that the world will hate them as it hated him. Those who kept his word will keep theirs. Those who reject, hate, and kill him will also reject, hate, and kill them and by doing so they will condemn themselves. The works that Jesus did testified to him being sent from God, but the world did not know God and did not accept him. The world incurred sin by persecuting Jesus and will incur sin by persecuting his disciples. The OT scripture was fulfilled; “More numerous than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause. Those who would destroy me are mighty, my enemies without reason (Ps. 69:5).” The truth about Jesus and the Father will be made clear when the Spirit of Truth comes, and the disciples will testify about Jesus.
Almighty God, the journey to Christ is difficult with a multitude of temptations along the way. Grant us the faith to persevere through our many trials and the wisdom to avoid all those whose hearts are filled with hatred. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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