John 15:12-14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:14

Verse 14 14.You are my friends. He does not mean that we obtain so great an honor by our own merit, but only reminds them of the condition on which he receives us into favor, and deigns to reckon us among his friends; as he said a little before, If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, (John 15:10.) For the grace of God our Savior hath appeared, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and righteously, and piously, in this world, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:9-16

The condition of abiding under the power of Christ's love. I. THE SPHERE AND CONDITION OF UNION . "As the Father hath loved me, I have also loved you: abide in my love." 1. The relation between the Father and the Son is the absolute type of the union between Christ and believer s. 2. The love of Christ is the sphere or atmosphere in which the disciple lives . "We love him, because he first loved us." 3. The disciple is under no other condition than that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:11-16

(a) To themselves . The Lord moves into another and wider development of the union between himself and his disciples. He drops the metaphor of the vine and the branches, and comes to the essence of the relation between them; that is, he does much to explain the meaning and nature of his abiding in them, and the character of the fruit which they were expected by the great Husbandman and Father to bring forth and ripen. A connection between the second section and the first is revealed in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:12

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I loved you. This ( John 13:34 ) was given as a "new commandment;" now he gathers the many commandments into one , as though all were included in it ( 1 John 3:16 ). This thought is further vindicated by an endeavor to explain in what sense and way he was loving them. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:12-15

Christ's friendship for his people. Human friendship is both beautiful to perceive and precious to enjoy. If affection and sympathy were thrust out of life, and if interest alone bound men together, how uninteresting and dismal would this world of humanity become! Every instance of friendship has its charm. The young, who share their pursuits and confidences; the middle-aged, who are guided by the same tastes, or principles, or occupations; the old, who interchange their recollections of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:12-15

Our friendship for Christ. Friendship is a relation between two parties. On both sides it is voluntary. It is mutual and reciprocal. We have seen how Christ shows his friendship towards us. We have to consider how we prove our friendship towards Christ, what he justly expects and requires from us. I. OUR FRIENDSHIP FOR CHRIST IS SHOWN IN THE FEELINGS OF OUR HEARTS TOWARDS HIM . 1. We admire his character. In varying degree we admire the principles, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:13

Greater love than this (love) no one hath, namely ( ἵνα ), that one should lay down his life for his friends . Meyer and Lange endeavor to maintain even here the telic force of ἵνα , "The love to you is of so consummate a character, that its object and purpose is seen in my laying down my life for my friends;" and Hengstenberg thinks so because probably a reference here is made to Isaiah 53:10 , that our Lord was pointing to his atoning death—to a death needed alike by enemies... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:14

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you —just because I command you. So the natural conclusion will be, "I am showing you the highest possible fruit of my friendship—I am laying down my life for you. This is how I have loved you; therefore after this manner you are to love one another" ( 1 John 3:16 ; Ephesians 5:1 , Ephesians 5:2 ). Our Lord then explains more and more to them how they can and do claim this glorious designation. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 15:12

This is my commandment - The special law of Christianity, called hence “the new commandment.” See the notes at John 13:34.As I have loved you - That is, with the same tender affection, willing to endure trials, to practice self-denials, and, if need be, to lay down your lives for each other, 1 John 3:16. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 15:13

Greater love hath ... - No higher expression of love could be given. Life is the most valuable object we possess; and when a man is willing to lay that down for his friends or his country, it shows the utmost extent of love. Even this love for friends has been rarely witnessed. A very few cases like that of Damon and Pythias have occurred where a man was willing to save the life of his friend by giving his own. It greatly enhances the love of Christ, that while the instances of those who have... read more

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