Worthy.Bible » Parallel » John » Chapter 15 » Verse 1-27

John 15:1-27 King James Version (KJV)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 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.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

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

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

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

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.

23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.


John 15:1-27 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 I G1473 am G1510 the true G228 vine, G288 and G2532 my G3450 Father G3962 is G2076 the husbandman. G1092

2 Every G3956 branch G2814 in G1722 me G1698 that G846 beareth G5342 not G3361 fruit G2590 he taketh away: G142 and G2532 every G3956 branch that beareth G5342 fruit, G2590 he purgeth G2508 it, G846 that G2443 it may bring forth G5342 more G4119 fruit. G2590

3 Now G2235 ye G5210 are G2075 clean G2513 through G1223 the word G3056 which G3739 I have spoken G2980 unto you. G5213

4 Abide G3306 in G1722 me, G1698 and I G2504 in G1722 you. G5213 As G2531 the branch G2814 cannot G3756 G1410 bear G5342 fruit G2590 of G575 itself, G1438 except G3362 it abide G3306 in G1722 the vine; G288 no more G3761 G3779 can ye, G5210 except G3362 ye abide G3306 in G1722 me. G1698

5 I G1473 am G1510 the vine, G288 ye G5210 are the branches: G2814 He that abideth G3306 in G1722 me, G1698 and I G2504 in G1722 him, G846 the same G3778 bringeth forth G5342 much G4183 fruit: G2590 for G3754 without G5565 me G1700 ye can G1410 do G4160 nothing. G3756 G3762

6 If G3362 a man G5100 abide G3306 not G3362 in G1722 me, G1698 he is cast G906 forth G1854 as G5613 a branch, G2814 and G2532 is withered; G3583 and G2532 men gather G4863 them, G846 and G2532 cast G906 them into G1519 the fire, G4442 and G2532 they are burned. G2545

7 If G1437 ye abide G3306 in G1722 me, G1698 and G2532 my G3450 words G4487 abide G3306 in G1722 you, G5213 ye shall ask G154 what G3739 G1437 ye will, G2309 and G2532 it shall be done G1096 unto you. G5213

8 Herein G1722 G5129 is G1392 my G3450 Father G3962 glorified, G1392 that G2443 ye bear G5342 much G4183 fruit; G2590 so G2532 shall ye be G1096 my G1699 disciples. G3101

9 As G2531 the Father G3962 hath loved G25 me, G3165 so G2504 have G25 I G2504 loved G25 you: G5209 continue ye G3306 in G1722 my G1699 love. G26

10 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

11 These things G5023 have I spoken G2980 unto you, G5213 that G2443 my G1699 joy G5479 might remain G3306 in G1722 you, G5213 and G2532 that your G5216 joy G5479 might be full. G4137

12 This G3778 is G2076 my G1699 commandment, G1785 That G2443 ye love G25 one another, G240 as G2531 I have loved G25 you. G5209

13 Greater G3187 love G26 hath G2192 no man G3762 than G3187 this, G5026 that G2443 a man G5100 lay down G5087 his G846 life G5590 for G5228 his G846 friends. G5384

14 Ye G5210 are G2075 my G3450 friends, G5384 if G1437 ye do G4160 whatsoever G3745 I G1473 command G1781 you. G5213

15 Henceforth G3765 I call G3004 you G5209 not G3765 servants; G1401 for G3754 the servant G1401 knoweth G1492 not G3756 what G5101 his G846 lord G2962 doeth: G4160 but G1161 I have called G2046 you G5209 friends; G5384 for G3754 all things G3956 that G3739 I have heard G191 of G3844 my G3450 Father G3962 I have made known G1107 unto you. G5213

16 Ye G5210 have G1586 not G3756 chosen G1586 me, G3165 but G235 I G1473 have chosen G1586 you, G5209 and G2532 ordained G5087 you, G5209 that G2443 ye G5210 should go G5217 and G2532 bring forth G5342 fruit, G2590 and G2532 that your G5216 fruit G2590 should remain: G3306 that G2443 whatsoever G3739 G302 G3748 ye shall ask G154 of the Father G3962 in G1722 my G3450 name, G3686 he may give it G1325 you. G5213

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

18 If G1487 the world G2889 hate G3404 you, G5209 ye know G1097 that G3754 it hated G3404 me G1691 before G4412 it hated you. G5216

19 If G1487 ye were G2258 of G1537 the world, G2889 the world G2889 would G302 love G5368 his own: G2398 but G1161 because G3754 ye are G2075 not G3756 of G1537 the world, G2889 but G235 I G1473 have chosen G1586 you G5209 out of G1537 the world, G2889 therefore G5124 G1223 the world G2889 hateth G3404 you. G5209

20 Remember G3421 the word G3056 that G3739 I G1473 said G2036 unto you, G5213 The servant G1401 is G2076 not G3756 greater than G3187 his G846 lord. G2962 If G1487 they have persecuted G1377 me, G1691 they will G1377 also G2532 persecute G1377 you; G5209 if G1487 they have kept G5083 my G3450 saying, G3056 they will keep G5083 yours G5212 also. G2532

21 But G235 all G3956 these things G5023 will they do G4160 unto you G5213 for G1223 my G3450 name's G3686 sake, G3450 because G3754 they know G1492 not G3756 him that sent G3992 me. G3165

22 If G1508 I had G2064 not G1508 come G2064 and G2532 spoken G2980 unto them, G846 they had G2192 not G3756 had G2192 sin: G266 but G1161 now G3568 they have G2192 no G3756 cloke G4392 for G4012 their G846 sin. G266

23 He that hateth G3404 me G1691 hateth G3404 my G3450 Father G3962 also. G2532

24 If G1508 I had G4160 not G1508 done G4160 among G1722 them G846 the works G2041 which G3739 none G3762 other man G243 did, G4160 they had G2192 not G3756 had G2192 sin: G266 but G1161 now G3568 have they G3708 both G2532 seen G3708 and G2532 hated G3404 both G2532 me G1691 and G2532 my G3450 Father. G3962

25 But G235 this cometh to pass, that G2443 the word G3056 might be fulfilled G4137 that is written G1125 in G1722 their G846 law, G3551 G3754 They hated G3404 me G3165 without a cause. G1432

26 But G1161 when G3752 the Comforter G3875 is come, G2064 whom G3739 I G1473 will send G3992 unto you G5213 from G3844 the Father, G3962 even the Spirit G4151 of truth, G225 which G3739 proceedeth G1607 from G3844 the Father, G3962 he G1565 shall testify G3140 of G4012 me: G1700

27 And G1161 ye G5210 also G2532 shall bear witness, G3140 because G3754 ye have been G2075 with G3326 me G1700 from G575 the beginning. G746


John 15:1-27 American Standard (ASV)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every `branch' that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit.

3 Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and `so' shall ye be my disciples.

9 Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love.

10 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.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and `that' your joy may be made full.

12 This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you.

15 No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you.

16 Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and `that' your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

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

18 If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before `it hated' you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

24 If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

25 But `this cometh to pass', that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, `even' the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me:

27 and ye also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.


John 15:1-27 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 `I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman;

2 every branch in me not bearing fruit, He doth take it away, and every one bearing fruit, He doth cleanse by pruning it, that it may bear more fruit;

3 already ye are clean, because of the word that I have spoken to you;

4 remain in me, and I in you, as the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself, if it may not remain in the vine, so neither ye, if ye may not remain in me.

5 `I am the vine, ye the branches; he who is remaining in me, and I in him, this one doth bear much fruit, because apart from me ye are not able to do anything;

6 if any one may not remain in me, he was cast forth without as the branch, and was withered, and they gather them, and cast to fire, and they are burned;

7 if ye may remain in me, and my sayings in you may remain, whatever ye may wish ye shall ask, and it shall be done to you.

8 `In this was my Father glorified, that ye may bear much fruit, and ye shall become my disciples.

9 According as the Father did love me, I also loved you, remain in my love;

10 if my commandments ye may keep, ye shall remain in my love, according as I the commands of my Father have kept, and do remain in His love;

11 these things I have spoken to you, that my joy in you may remain, and your joy may be full.

12 `This is my command, that ye love one another, according as I did love you;

13 greater love than this hath no one, that any one his life may lay down for his friends;

14 ye are my friends, if ye may do whatever I command you;

15 no more do I call you servants, because the servant hath not known what his lord doth, and you I have called friends, because all things that I heard from my Father, I did make known to you.

16 `Ye did not choose out me, but I chose out you, and did appoint you, that ye might go away, and might bear fruit, and your fruit might remain, that whatever ye may ask of the Father in my name, He may give you.

17 `These things I command you, that ye love one another;

18 if the world doth hate you, ye know that it hath hated me before you;

19 if of the world ye were, the world its own would have been loving, and because of the world ye are not -- but I chose out of the world -- because of this the world hateth you.

20 `Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; if me they did persecute, you also they will persecute; if my word they did keep, yours also they will keep;

21 but all these things will they do to you, because of my name, because they have not known Him who sent me;

22 if I had not come and spoken to them, they were not having sin; but now pretext they have not for their sin.

23 `He who is hating me, doth hate also my Father;

24 if I did not do among them the works that no other hath done, they were not having sin, and now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father;

25 but -- that the word may be fulfilled that was written in their law -- They hated me without a cause.

26 `And when the Comforter may come, whom I will send to you from the Father -- the Spirit of truth, who from the Father doth come forth, he will testify of me;

27 and ye also do testify, because from the beginning ye are with me.


John 15:1-27 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 [As to] every branch in me not bearing fruit, he takes it away; and [as to] every one bearing fruit, he purges it that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Ye are already clean by reason of the word which I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abide in the vine, thus neither [can] ye unless ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches. He that abides in me and I in him, *he* bears much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.

6 Unless any one abide in me he is cast out as the branch, and is dried up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall come to pass to you.

8 In this is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, and ye shall become disciples of mine.

9 As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you: abide in my love.

10 If ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

11 I have spoken these things to you that my joy may be in you, and your joy be full.

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

13 No one has greater love than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends if ye practise whatever I command you.

15 I call you no longer bondmen, for the bondman does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things which I have heard of my Father I have made known to you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and have set you that ye should go and [that] ye should bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should abide, that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he may give you.

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

18 If the world hate you, know that it has hated me before you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on account of this the world hates you.

20 Remember the word which I said unto you, The bondman is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep also yours.

21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they have not known him that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23 He that hates me hates also my Father.

24 If I had not done among them the works which no other one has done, they had not had sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.

25 But that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, They hated me without a cause.

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes forth from with the Father, *he* shall bear witness concerning me;

27 and ye too bear witness, because ye are with me from [the] beginning.


John 15:1-27 World English Bible (WEB)

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.

2 Every branch in me that doesn't bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If a man doesn't remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

8 "In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.

9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love.

11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.

15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

16 You didn't choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

17 "I command these things to you, that you may love one another.

18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you.

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his lord.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do to you for my name's sake, because they don't know him who sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23 He who hates me, hates my Father also.

24 If I hadn't done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn't have had sin. But now have they seen and also hated both me and my Father.

25 But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'

26 "When the Counselor{Greek Parakletos: Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, and Comfortor.} has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me.

27 You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.


John 15:1-27 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.

2 He takes away every branch in me which has no fruit, and every branch which has fruit he makes clean, so that it may have more fruit.

3 You are clean, even now, through the teaching which I have given you.

4 Be in me at all times as I am in you. As the branch is not able to give fruit of itself, if it is not still on the vine, so you are not able to do so if you are not in me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches: he who is in me at all times as I am in him, gives much fruit, because without me you are able to do nothing.

6 If a man does not keep himself in me, he becomes dead and is cut off like a dry branch; such branches are taken up and put in the fire and burned.

7 If you are in me at all times, and my words are in you, then anything for which you make a request will be done for you.

8 Here is my Father's glory, in that you give much fruit and so are my true disciples.

9 Even as the Father has given me his love, so I have given my love to you: be ever in my love.

10 If you keep my laws, you will be ever in my love, even as I have kept my Father's laws, and am ever in his love.

11 I have said these things to you so that I may have joy in you and so that your joy may be complete.

12 This is the law I give you: Have love one for another, even as I have love for you.

13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends.

14 You are my friends, if you do what I give you orders to do.

15 No longer do I give you the name of servants; because a servant is without knowledge of what his master is doing: I give you the name of friends, because I have given you knowledge of all the things which my Father has said to me.

16 You did not take me for yourselves, but I took you for myself; and I gave you the work of going about and producing fruit which will be for ever; so that whatever request you make to the Father in my name he may give it to you.

17 So this is my law for you: Have love one for another.

18 If you are hated by the world, keep in mind that I was hated by the world before you.

19 If you were of the world, you would be loved by the world: but because you are not of the world, but I have taken you out of the world, you are hated by the world.

20 Keep in mind the words I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they were cruel to me, they will be cruel to you; if they kept my words, they will keep yours.

21 They will do all this to you because of my name--because they have no knowledge of him who sent me.

22 If I had not come and been their teacher they would have had no sin: but now they have no reason to give for their sin.

23 He who has hate for me has hate for my Father.

24 If I had not done among them the works which no other man ever did, they would have had no sin: but now they have seen, and they have had hate in their hearts for me and my Father.

25 This comes about so that the writing in their law may be made true, Their hate for me was without cause.

26 When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father even the Spirit of true knowledge who comes from the Father--he will give witness about me;

27 And you, in addition, will give witness because you have been with me from the first.

Commentary on John 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 15

Joh 15:1-27. Discourse at the Supper Table Continued.

1-8. The spiritual oneness of Christ and His people, and His relation to them as the Source of all their spiritual life and fruitfulness, are here beautifully set forth by a figure familiar to Jewish ears (Isa 5:1, &c.).

I am the true vine—of whom the vine of nature is but a shadow.

my Father is the husbandman—the great Proprietor of the vineyard, the Lord of the spiritual kingdom. (It is surely unnecessary to point out the claim to supreme divinity involved in this).

2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit … every branch that beareth fruit—As in a fruit tree, some branches may be fruitful, others quite barren, according as there is a vital connection between the branch and the stock, or no vital connection; so the disciples of Christ may be spiritually fruitful or the reverse, according as they are vitally and spiritually connected with Christ, or but externally and mechanically attached to Him. The fruitless He "taketh away" (see on Joh 15:6); the fruitful He "purgeth" (cleanseth, pruneth)—stripping it, as the husbandman does, of what is rank (Mr 4:19), "that it may bring forth more fruit"; a process often painful, but no less needful and beneficial than in the natural husbandry.

3. Now—rather, "Already."

ye are clean through—by reason of.

the word I have spoken to you—already in a purified, fruitful condition, in consequence of the long action upon them of that searching "word" which was "as a refiner's fire" (Mal 3:2, 3).

4. Abide in me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, &c.—As all spiritual fruitfulness had been ascribed to the mutual inhabitation, and living, active interpenetration (so to speak) of Christ and His disciples, so here the keeping up of this vital connection is made essential to continued fruitfulness.

5. without me—apart, or vitally disconnected from Me.

ye can do nothing—spiritually, acceptably.

6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch … withered … cast into the fire … burned—The one proper use of the vine is to bear fruit; failing this, it is good for one other thing—fuel. (See Eze 15:1-5). How awfully striking the figure, in this view of it!

7. If ye abide in me, and my words … in you—Mark the change from the inhabitation of Himself to that of His words, paving the way for the subsequent exhortations (Joh 15:9, 10).

ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you—because this indwelling of His words in them would secure the harmony of their askings with the divine will.

8. glorified that ye bear much fruit—not only from His delight in it for its own sake, but as from "the juices of the Living Vine."

so shall ye be my disciples—evidence your discipleship.

9-11. continue ye in my love—not, "Continue to love Me," but, "Continue in the possession and enjoyment of My love to you"; as is evident from the next words.

10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love—the obedient spirit of true discipleship cherishing and attracting the continuance and increase of Christ's love; and this, He adds, was the secret even of His own abiding in His Father's love!

12-16. That ye love one another, &c.—(See on Joh 13:34, 35).

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."

14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you—hold yourselves in absolute subjection to Me.

15. Henceforth I call you not servants—that is, in the sense explained in the next words; for servants He still calls them (Joh 15:20), and they delight to call themselves so, in the sense of being "under law to Christ" (1Co 9:20).

the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth—knows nothing of his master's plans and reasons, but simply receives and executes his orders.

but … friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you—admitted you to free, unrestrained fellowship, keeping back nothing from you which I have received to communicate. (Compare Ge 18:17; Ps 25:14; Isa 50:4).

16. Ye have not chosen me, but I … you—a wholesale memento after the lofty things He had just said about their mutual indwelling, and the unreservedness of the friendship they had been admitted to.

ordained—appointed.

you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit—that is, give yourselves to it.

and that your fruit should remain—showing itself to be an imperishable and ever growing principle. (Compare Pr 4:18; 2Jo 8).

that whatsoever ye shall ask, &c.—(See on Joh 15:7).

17-21. The substance of these important verses has occurred more than once before. (See on Mt 10:34-36; Lu 12:49-53, &c.).

22-25. (See on Joh 9:39-41).

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin—comparatively none; all other sins being light compared with the rejection of the Son of God.

now they have no cloak for their sin—rather, "pretext."

24. If I had not done … the works which none other … did—(See on Joh 12:37).

25. that the word might be fulfilled … They hated me without a cause—quoted from the Messianic Ps 69:4, applied also in the same sense in Joh 2:17; Ac 1:20; Ro 11:9, 10; 15:3.

26, 27. (See on Joh 14:15; Joh 14:17).

27. ye also shall bear witness—rather, "are witnesses"; with reference indeed to their future witness-bearing, but putting the emphasis upon their present ample opportunities for acquiring their qualifications for that great office, inasmuch as they had been "with Him from the beginning." (See on Lu 1:2).