John 15:17

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

These things {G5023} I command {G1781} you {G5213}, that {G2443} ye love {G25} one another {G240}.

This is what I command you: keep loving each other!

This is My command to you: Love one another.

These things I command you, that ye may love one another.

John 15:17 (KJV) delivers a concise yet profound summary of Jesus' teachings to His disciples during His final hours before His crucifixion. It encapsulates the very essence of His new covenant and the distinguishing mark of His followers: mutual love.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extensive farewell discourse to His disciples, recorded in John chapters 13-17, often referred to as the Upper Room Discourse. Coming immediately after Jesus commands them to love one another as He has loved them, John 15:17 serves as a powerful reiteration and summary of this divine imperative. It follows the rich metaphor of the vine and branches, where abiding in Christ leads to bearing much fruit, and love is presented as the supreme fruit of that abiding relationship. It connects directly to the idea that keeping His commandments results in abiding in His love.

Key Themes

  • The Centrality of Love: Jesus doesn't suggest love; He commands it. This highlights love as the foundational ethic for His followers, not an optional virtue. It's the core of the new covenant, just as love for God and neighbor was the summary of the Old Testament law (Matthew 22:37-39).
  • Mutual and Reciprocal Love: The phrase "one another" emphasizes the reciprocal nature of this love within the community of believers. It's about how Christ's followers relate to each other, forming a distinct community characterized by selfless care.
  • A Distinctive Mark: This command to love one another is presented as the primary identifier of Jesus' disciples. As Jesus stated earlier, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "love" used here is agapao (verb) and agape (noun). This is not merely an emotional fondness or familial affection, but a profound, selfless, and intentional love that seeks the highest good of the other, regardless of their merit. It is the very nature of God Himself (1 John 4:8). The word for "command" (entellomai) signifies an authoritative injunction, underscoring that this love is not a suggestion but an obligation for those who follow Him.

Practical Application

John 15:17 challenges believers to actively demonstrate Christ-like love in their daily lives. This means:

  • Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Choosing to forgive those who wrong us, just as Christ forgave us.
  • Selfless Service: Prioritizing the needs of others above our own, mirroring Christ's humility and service.
  • Unity in the Church: Working towards harmony and understanding within the body of Christ, allowing love to bridge differences and prevent divisions.
  • A Powerful Witness: When the world observes genuine, self-sacrificial love among Christians, it serves as a compelling testimony to the reality and power of God's love. This command is both the foundation of Christian community and its most potent evangelistic tool.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 15:12

    This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

  • 1 John 3:14

    ¶ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.

  • 1 John 3:17

    But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

  • 1 Peter 2:17

    Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
← Back