John 15:12-15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:12

Verse 12 12.This is my commandment. Since it is proper that we regulate our life according to the commandment of Christ, it is necessary, first of all, that we should understand what it is that he wills or commands He now therefore repeats what he had formerly said, that it is his will, above all things, that believers should cherish mutual love among themselves. True, the love and reverence for God comes first in order, but as the true proof of it is love toward our neighbors, he dwells... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:13

Verse 13 13.Greater love hath no one than this. Christ sometimes proclaims the greatness of his love to us, that he may more fully confirm our confidence in our salvation; but now he proceeds further, in order to inflame us, by his example, to love the brethren. Yet he joins both together; for he means that we should taste by faith how inestimably delightful his goodness is, and next he allures us, in this way, to cultivate brotherly love. Thus Paul writes: Walk in love, as Christ also hath... read more

John Calvin

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

John Calvin

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

Verse 15 15.Henceforth I will not call you servants. By another argument he shows his love toward the disciples, which was, that he opened his mind fully to them, as familiar communication is maintained among friends. “I have condescended,” he says, “far more to you than a mortal man is wont to condescend to his servants Let this be regarded by you, therefore, as a pledge of my love toward you, that I have, in a kind and friendly manner, explained to you the secrets of heavenly wisdom which I... 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

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