The disciples and the world. Our Lord turns to a new thought—the relation of his disciples to the world. I. THE SCOPE OF ALL CHRIST 'S TEACHING IS TO DEVELOP LOVE . "These things I command you, that ye may love one another." 1. This love is to be the characteristic of the new kingdom , and thus the strong attraction of the gospel. 2. Yet , essentially noble as it is , it will challenge the hostility of a world out of all sympathy with Christ . ... read more
You need net be surprised if the world hate you . "The world," κόσμος (five times used in strongly emphatic manner), is humanity apart from grace. This world will despise and hate your mutual love, will scorn your love to itself for my sake; will detest the higher and unworldly standard which you will set up. But here is some consolation. Know ( γινώσκετε imperative, as μνημονεύετε in John 15:20 ) that it has hated me before (it hated) you . "Me first, me most" (Lange).... read more
The world hating the servants of Jesus. Jesus speaks here of love and hate, and of no third thing lying between them, and being neither one thing nor another. What looks like indifference is only sleeping love or sleeping hate. There are those who only need sufficient stirring up in order to become devoted lovers of Jesus and his cause. And so with the stirring up of hatred to Jesus. Character and disposition must in due season come out to the full light of day. The sleeping tiger is none... read more
The world's hatred. Our Lord enjoined that within the Church there should prevail love and brotherhood. But at the same time he foretold that from without Christians should meet with hatred and opposition, enmity and persecution. I. EVIDENCES OF THE WORLD 'S HATRED OF CHRISTIANS . 1. We are constrained by facts to rank with the world, in this respect, the adherents of the Jewish system. As his own countrymen were our Lord's opponents and in truth his real murderers,... read more
If ye were of the world — i.e. still a part of it, deriving your life, maxims, and pleasures from it; if you could sympathize with its vulgar passion, and its temporary fleeting excitements, partisanships, and bigotries— the world would be loving ( ἐφιλεὶ , notice the form of the conditional sentence, a supposition contrary to fact, therefore anticipating the negative clause that follows, "but ye are not of the world;" notice also that φίλεω , the love of affection, not ἀγαπάω ... read more
If the world hate you - The friendship of the world they were not to expect, but they were not to be deterred from their work by its hatred. They had seen the example of Jesus. No opposition of the proud, the wealthy, the learned, or the men of power, no persecution or gibes, had deterred him from his work. Remembering this, and having his example steadily in the eye, they were to labor not less because wicked men should oppose and deride them. It is enough for the disciple to be as his Master,... read more
If ye were of the world - If you were actuated by the principles of the world. If, like them, you were vain, earthly, sensual, given to pleasure, wealth, ambition, they would not oppose you.Because ye are not of the world - Because you are influenced by different principles from men of the world. You are actuated by the love of God and holiness; they by the love of sin.I have chosen you out of the world - I have, by choosing you to be my followers, separated you from their society, and placed... read more
John 15:17-21. These things I command you, &c. Again I would remind you, that if you would continue thus to be the objects of these my Father’s gracious regards, you must carefully practise your duty to each other, as well as to him; you must continue to love one another; and this you should the rather do, as you will be the mark of common hatred and persecution. Yet, if the world hate you You will have no reason to be offended or surprised at it; for ye know that it hated me Mild... read more
145. Union with Jesus (John 15:1-27)In themselves believers have no life, strength or spiritual power. All that they have comes from Jesus Christ. If he is likened to a vine, they are likened to the branches, which means that they can bear spiritual fruit only as they are united in him. As they allow the Father to remove the hindrances of sin from their lives, they will bear even more fruit (John 15:1-5).Those who bear no fruit are like the dead branches of a vine. Though attached to it, they... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:17-27
(b) The results of this union with Christ to the unbelieving world . read more