Our Lord presseth obedience to his commandments as a means, and indeed the only means, by which we can declare our love to Christ; and also useth a new argument to press their obedience, from his assuming them into the state and dignity of his friends. read more
EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL NOTESJohn 15:1. True vine.—Christ and the disciples were now on the way to Gethsemane. Their passing through the vineyards, etc., surrounding the city may have suggested this image: others think it may have been called up by a vine in the courtyard, or on the roof, of the house where the supper was instituted; others, by the golden vine which adorned one of the temple gates; and others still, by the fires of the vine-prunings along the valley of the Kidron. The first... read more
John 15:13-14 Friendship with Christ Observe: I. That the overtures of this friendship came first from Christ Himself, had their spring in considerations which could have originated with the Divine mind alone, whilst the proof of His own earnest desire to bring about such friendship is the very strongest that could be given. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Who are Christ's friends? And the answer returned by our text is significant "Ye are My... read more
Tonight let's turn now to John's gospel chapter 15, as we follow Jesus in His last hours prior to the cross.Jesus had been at the last supper with His disciples there in the upper room somewhere in Jerusalem. The fourteenth chapter of John ends with the words, "Arise, let us go hence." So, at that point, they left the upper room. And they began their journey which would ultimately lead them to the Garden of Gethsemane. And whether or not they went through the temple courts or whatever, we don't... read more
John 15:1 . I am the true vine. The vine through every age had designated the Hebrew church; here the Lord employs it to designate the Christian church, of which he is the head, and the source of life. He is that vine which gives vital juice to render all the branches fruitful, and whose fruits refresh and fill the heart with joy and gladness. Judges 9:13. Psalms 104:15. My Father is the husbandman, who takes care of these branches, cutting off the suckers and withered parts, pruning the... read more
John 15:12-17This is My commandment, that ye love one anotherThe great commandment of Christ I.THE LOVE OF CHRIST. Remember 1. How free it was. We did not merit it, ask for it, nor even desire it. And here is the wonder of it. It is love which found nothing to draw it forth. It was entirely self-moved. Disinterestedness then must be one main ingredient in the love we are to bear our fellow men. It is not to stop and ask, “Why should I love that man? What has he done for me?” That is a love like... read more
John 15:14-17Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command youChrist’s friendsNotice I.WHAT CHRIST’S FRIENDS DO FOR HIM (John 15:16). In the former verse, “friends” means chiefly those whom He loved. Here it means mainly those who love Him. 1. He lingers on the idea, as if He would meet the doubts arising from the sense of unworthiness, and from some dim perception of how He towers above them. How wonderful that stooping love of His is! Every form of human love Christ lays His hand upon. “He... read more
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Ver. 14. If ye do whatsoever, &c. ] In desire and endeavour lifting at the latch, though ye cannot open the door, and looking to both the magnalia great matters and minutuia small matters of the law Boni Catholici sunt (saith Augustine) qui et fidem integram sequuntur, et bonos mores. Good Christians are those who follow a sound faith and good habits. And they are written in the book of life (saith Bernard) that do what they... read more
my: John 14:15, John 14:28, 2 Chronicles 20:7, Song of Solomon 5:1, Isaiah 41:8, Matthew 12:50, Luke 12:4, James 2:23 if: John 2:5, John 13:17, John 14:21, 1 John 5:3 Reciprocal: Genesis 6:22 - General Exodus 7:6 - General Exodus 12:50 - as the Lord Exodus 17:10 - Joshua Exodus 33:11 - his friend Leviticus 18:4 - General Leviticus 18:26 - keep Numbers 9:5 - according Deuteronomy 4:1 - unto the statutes Deuteronomy 5:10 - love me Deuteronomy 5:29 - keep all Deuteronomy 11:32 - General... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:1-27
John 15. The Vine.— The relation of the following chapters to 14 has been discussed. The Parœ mia, or parable-like discourse, reminds us of the parable or metaphor of the Good Shepherd in ch. 10 . Two thoughts are prominent here, the pruning needed to get rid of useless branches and to ensure the fruitfulness of the rest, and the intimate union between Christ and His disciples, symbolised by the relation of the branches to the vine. We must compare the OT teaching which represents Israel as... read more