If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
If {G1437} ye keep {G5083} my {G3450} commandments {G1785}, ye shall abide {G3306} in {G1722} my {G3450} love {G26}; even as {G2531} I {G1473} have kept {G5083} my {G3450} Father's {G3962} commandments {G1785}, and {G2532} abide {G3306} in {G1722} his {G846} love {G26}.
If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love — just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love.
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
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John 14:15
¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments. -
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. -
1 John 2:5
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. -
1 John 3:21
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God. -
1 John 3:24
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. -
2 Peter 2:21
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. -
John 8:29
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
John 15:10 is a foundational verse within Jesus' profound "Vine and Branches" discourse, delivered to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion. It beautifully articulates the reciprocal relationship between obedience and divine love, presenting Jesus Himself as the ultimate example of this principle.
Context
This verse is nestled within Jesus' extensive Farewell Discourse, recorded in John chapters 13 through 17. Specifically, it follows Jesus' command to abide in Him as branches abide in the vine, emphasizing that such connection is essential for bearing spiritual fruit (John 15:5). Verse 10 clarifies the practical outworking of "abiding in His love" by directly linking it to keeping His commandments.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insight
The Greek word for "abide" or "remain" is meno. This term is central to John 15, appearing frequently. It denotes a continuous, enduring presence and a deep, intimate connection, not merely a temporary stay. When Jesus invites His disciples to "abide in my love," He is calling them into a permanent, sustained relationship that is maintained through their responsive obedience to His teachings.
Practical Application
John 15:10 offers profound guidance for Christian discipleship today. It teaches that a vibrant, enduring relationship with Jesus, characterized by the experience of His love, is intricately linked to a lifestyle of obedience to His commands. This obedience is not burdensome but flows from a heart of love and trust, leading to spiritual fruitfulness and a deeper understanding of God's character. By following Christ's example of obedience to the Father, believers can experience the same secure and joyful fellowship with Him, leading to the fullness of joy that Jesus promises in John 15:11.