Yochanan 16:1

1 6 I have spoken these things to you that no cause of michshol (stumbling, falling) may trip you up.

Yochanan 16:1 Meaning and Commentary

John 16:1

These things have I spoken unto you
Concerning the world's hatred and persecution of them, and the little regard they would show to their doctrine: these things Christ thought, proper to give them notice of before hand, that expecting them, they might be prepared for them, and be fortified against them;

that,
says he,

ye should not be offended:
his view in speaking of them, was not to discourage them, but to prevent their stumbling at them, and falling by them. Hardships coming upon persons at unawares, bear the harder upon their spirits, and they are more apt to take offence at them and be impatient under them, which is prevented by previous intimation: had Christ said nothing of these things that should befall his disciples, they might have surprised them, and have been a stumbling to them; and might have tempted them to have relinquished their profession of him, and dropped their ministerial work; whereas being apprized of them before hand, they were not so shocking to them. This shows the tender concern of Christ for his disciples, how careful he was to remove, every occasion of stumbling, or what might be matter of offence to them; and may teach us to act in such like manner towards one another, in this, or any other case.

Yochanan 16:1 In-Context

1 6 I have spoken these things to you that no cause of michshol (stumbling, falling) may trip you up.

2 They will put you under the cherem ban in the shuls. A sha’ah (hour, time) is coming when everyone who kills you will suppose they are offering avodas kodesh to Hashem. [YESHAYAH 66:5]

3 And these things they will do because they did not have da’as of HaAv or of me.

4 But these things I have spoken to you, that, when the sha’ah of these things comes, you might have zikaron (remembrance) of these things, that I told you. But I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

5 But now I am going to the One who sent me. And none of you asks me, Where are you going?