George Hutcheson
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Followeth the third and last part of the chapter, wherein Christ, that he may yet more excite them to mutual love, doth forewarn them of the hatred and persecution they were to meet with in the world; and armeth them against the same by several arguments of consolation and encouragement, to v. 22. Which in the following purpose he further confirmeth, and vindicates them against all stumbling blocks and exceptions.
In this verse their case is intimate that the world would hate them; unto which is subjoyned the first argument of encouragement, taken from his own example and lot, so assuring them that in their sufferings, they had fellowship with him, who was hated of the world before them. Whence learn, 1. As beleevers may look for love from Christ and Saints, so they must expect trouble and hatred from the world; for, unto the former doctrine, concerning Christs love, and their duty to love one another, it is subjoyned, that the world will hate you. 2. The worlds hatted of beleevers is a strong argument to perswade them to love one another; for, this is also subjoyned as an argument to presse mutual love, that they are sure to meet with hatred from others. And indeed, when love decayeth, God useth to kindle it up by stormes of persecution, which cause Saints to draw together. 3. Christ is a faithful Master, who will hide from his servants nothing of their danger and difficulties; and it may assure us of the reality of his encouragements, that he giveth so free warning of dangers: Therefore, doth he faithfully warn them here. 4. Persecution ariseth from mens worldly dispositions, and their being of the world; and all who are so, are fair to be cruel persecutors, as they have opportunity; for, the world hates you, saith he. 5. As the persecution of Saints floweth from implacable malice in the world against them: so whoever do hate godlinesse, and the godly for its sake, they are already engaged in a course of persecution, and will go a further length, as they have permission and opportunity; for this cause doth he comprehend all their persecutions and sufferings under the name of hatred, as being a persecution in Gods account, and the rise of all the worlds cruelty. 6. Hatred and persecution from the world, is a very hard and difficult lot to Saints, unlesse Christ do encourage them against and under it; Therefore doth he not only forewarn, but arme them also. 7. Such as would bear out under sad lots, ought to be well acquainted and studie seriously the condition of Christ and his Church in all ages; and what they know, Christ will put them to it, to emprove it; Therefore, doth he appeal to their knowledge in this matter of their encouragement, ye know, &c. 8. Christ is the prime object of the worlds hatred, and they who hate his members, do hate himself first, and them, because of somewhat of him in them; for, saith he, it hated me, before it hated you. 9. As it is a great encouragement in suffering times, to know that beleevers before us have met with the like lots, Mat. 5.12. So, in particular, Christs going before us in enduring the worlds hatred, may exceedingly encourage sufferers, Heb. 12.1, 2, 3. For, hereby not only is his great love commended, who would offer himself to an ingrate world, Luke 23.34. But it serves further, to guard our hearts against the calumnies cast upon us in our sufferings, since he, who was innocent, and the Lord of glory, was persecuted under the notion of a Samaritane, and what not? To point out our dignity, that we should be made conforme to our Head, were it but in suffering, and that we should be served heires to that enmity that began at him, and which lights on us for his sake: To assure us of his sympathy, in whose quarrel we are embarqued, and who drank of that cup himself: To assure us how easie this suffering will be, he having essayed it before us, (as nothing will prove hard to a beleever which Christ hath once tasted of) so that we need no more but to follow him to the spoile; and, to assure us of the victory, since he hath already triumphed over the worlds hatred in our name. So much is held forth, for the comfort of sufferers, in this Argument, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
