John 16:6 (ASV)

Passage

But because I have spoken these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Nearby Context

John 16:4 But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you.

John 16:5 But now I go unto him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

John 16:6 But because I have spoken these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.

John 16:8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "spoken", "things", "sorrow", "hath", "filled", and "heart". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "spoken" and "things", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "But now I go unto him that..." into verse 7's "Nevertheless I tell you the truth It...", so "spoken" and "things" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "spoken" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.