John 15:13 KJV

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

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 15:13-16

John 15:13-16. Greater love To his friends, (of whom here he only speaks,) hath no man than this That is, a greater degree of love than this never existed in the world; that a man lay down his life for his friends That a man should be willing, not only on some sudden alarm, or in some extraordinary and unexpected danger, to hazard his life on their account; but on the coolest deliberation, to submit to lay it down for their preservation and happiness. Ye are my friends Ye are the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 15:1-27

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 15:13

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis. a man = one. Greek. tis. App-123 . lay down . Greek. tithemi, literally place; translated "giveth" in John 10:11 ; "lay down "in John 10:15 , John 10:17 , John 10:18 ; John 13:37 , John 13:38 ; 1 John 3:16 . life. App-110 . for = in behalf of. Greek. huper. App-104 . friends (Greek. philos, noun of phileo. App-135 .) = those whom one loves. Compare John 13:1 .Romans 5:6-8 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.These words evidently inspired the reference of the apostle Paul to the incredible fact that Christ died for men while they were yet sinners (see my Commentary on Romans, pp. 183-185). The love of Jesus for men is here contrasted with the highest conceivable example of man's love for men, the love of Christ far exceeding any love that men might have for one another. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 15:13-14

John 15:13-14. Greater love hath no man than this,— "My love to you is stronger than death; for I will lay down my life for you: a greater degree of love than this never existed in the world; this is the love that I bear towards you, and which I recommend as the pattern of your love to one another. Ye are my friends, Joh 15:14 for whom I will lay down my life, if ye do what I have commanded you." Jesus had commanded them, Joh 15:12 to love one another, as he loved them: in Joh 15:13 he informs... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 15:13

13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends—The emphasis lies not on "friends," but on "laying down his life" for them; that is, "One can show no greater regard for those dear to him than to give his life for them, and this is the love ye shall find in Me." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 15:1-16

5. The importance of abiding in Jesus 15:1-16Jesus continued to prepare His disciples for His departure. He next taught the Eleven the importance of abiding in Him with the result that they would produce much spiritual fruit. He dealt with their relationships to Himself, one another, and the world around them in chapter 15. Their responsibilities were to abide, to love, and to testify respectively."If in the Discourse recorded in the fourteenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel the Godward aspect of... read more