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What the Fathers say

John 16:19

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Alexandria

As then they were thirsting for information and sought to know more exactly the meaning of His words, He gives a clearer exposition of His Passion, and vouchsafes them the foreknowledge of the sufferings that He was about to undergo to their great profit. It was not in order that He might engender in them premature alarm that He deemed it meet to give them this explanation beforehand, but in order that, forearmed by their knowledge, they might perchance be found more courageous to withstand the terror that would assail them. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 11 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

The Lord saw that the disciples, burdened with sorrow, did not fully understand His words; therefore He offers them a clearer teaching about His death, so that, having grown accustomed to the words and deeds, they might bear it courageously.

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

2125 Now their perplexity is revealed. First, it is acknowledged by Christ; secondly, it is cleared up (v 20); and thirdly Christ presents a similar situation (v 21). 2126 He does two things about the first. First, he shows how the perplexity of the disciples was recognized by Christ, when he says, Jesus knew, by reason of his divinity, that they wanted to ask him, about this difficulty: "He himself knew what was in man" (2:25); "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Sam 16:7). …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

But Jesus knew. Here the third point is touched upon, namely the removal of doubt, which was done by the Master before the inquiry of the disciples; on account of which he says: Jesus knew that they wished to ask him, etc.; Sirach twenty-three: "The eyes of the Lord are far brighter than the sun, looking round about all the ways of men and the depth of the abyss, and beholding the hearts of men into hidden parts"; and Sirach sixteen: "Every heart is understood by him; and who understands his ways?" And he anticipated their doubt or …

Commentary on John, Chapter 16 ↗

Alcuin of York

It follows; Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask Him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament. Their merciful Master, understanding their ignorance and doubts, replied so as to explain what He had said.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗