John 13:20 kjv
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
John 13:20 nkjv
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."
John 13:20 niv
Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
John 13:20 esv
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."
John 13:20 nlt
I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me."
John 13 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 10:40 | "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me." | Direct parallel, highlighting identification. |
| Lk 10:16 | "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me." | Rejection has severe consequences, mirrors acceptance. |
| Jn 17:18 | "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." | Jesus commissions disciples as the Father commissioned Him. |
| Jn 12:44-45 | "Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me." | Identification of Christ with the Father. |
| Jn 5:23 | "That all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." | Connection between honoring Son and Father. |
| Mt 28:18-20 | "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples..." | The Great Commission, rooted in Jesus' authority. |
| Lk 9:1-2 | "He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons... And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God." | Initial commissioning of the twelve with power. |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses..." | Empowerment for apostolic mission. |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us." | Believers as representatives, appealing on Christ's behalf. |
| Phil 2:29-30 | "So receive him in the Lord with all joy... for he nearly died for the work of Christ." | Paul's exhortation to receive his emissary, Epaphroditus. |
| 1 Thess 2:13 | "When you received the word of God... you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God." | Receiving the message of apostles is receiving God's word. |
| Heb 3:1 | "Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, a faithful apostle and high priest..." | Jesus as the ultimate 'sent one' (apostle). |
| 1 Sam 8:7 | "And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you but they have rejected me from being king over them.'" | Rejection of God's representative is rejection of God. |
| Is 6:8 | "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'" | Prophetic sending and willingness to represent God. |
| Ez 2:3 | "Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a rebellious nation..." | God sends His prophet to His people. |
| Mk 9:37 | "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." | Connection between receiving humble ones and receiving Christ/Father. |
| Gen 12:3 | "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse." | Principle of blessing/cursing based on reception of God's chosen. |
| Rom 10:14-15 | "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" | Necessity of being sent to proclaim the Gospel. |
| Jn 20:21 | "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.'" | Post-resurrection commissioning. |
| Eph 4:11 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers..." | Gifts of Christ to the church for its mission. |
John 13 verses
John 13 20 Meaning
John 13:20 conveys a profound principle of identification and delegation within the divine mission. Jesus declares that whoever welcomes and embraces those He commissions to represent Him is, in essence, welcoming and embracing Jesus Himself. Furthermore, welcoming Jesus Himself is equivalent to welcoming and honoring God the Father, who sent Jesus. This verse establishes a direct chain of divine authority and connection, emphasizing that those sent by Christ carry His very presence and the Father's ultimate authority.
John 13 20 Context
John 13:20 is situated at a crucial point in Jesus' Last Supper discourse with His disciples. Prior to this verse, Jesus performs the humble act of washing His disciples' feet (vv. 1-11), an act that contrasts sharply with the disciples' understanding of greatness and serves as a model for their future ministry of service. Immediately after washing the feet, Jesus speaks of a "new commandment" to love one another (vv. 34-35). He also predicts His betrayal by Judas (vv. 18-30), which is interwoven with verse 18: "But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’" This backdrop highlights both the intimate relationship Jesus shares with His true disciples and the reality of betrayal. Against this mixed background of humble service and impending betrayal, John 13:20 underscores the enduring authority and identification associated with those who are genuinely sent by Christ, distinguishing them from those who would betray Him. It is a teaching about true representation, preparing the disciples for their future role as His emissaries.
John 13 20 Word analysis
- Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν (Amēn amēn): "Truly, truly" or "Verily, verily." This is a transliteration of the Hebrew word 'Amen,' meaning "so be it" or "it is true." In the Gospels, especially John, Jesus uses this solemn double "Amen" frequently to introduce a statement of exceptional importance, divine certainty, and profound truth. It signals that what follows is a significant and authoritative declaration.
- λέγω (legō): "I say." This signifies a direct, authoritative utterance from Jesus, not a mere suggestion or opinion.
- ὑμῖν (hymin): "to you" (plural). Jesus addresses His disciples directly, affirming the truth specifically for them and their future mission.
- ὁ λαμβάνων (ho lambanōn): "he who receives" or "the one receiving." The verb 'lambanō' denotes more than just passive reception; it implies a welcoming, an embracing, or an acceptance, often with hospitality. It speaks of a positive acknowledgment and identification with the person or message being received.
- ἄν τινα (an tina): "whoever" or "whomsoever." This general pronoun signifies that the principle applies universally to anyone Jesus sends, irrespective of their specific identity.
- πέμψω (pempsō): "I send" (from 'pempō'). This verb implies commissioning, dispatching with authority, and often refers to the specific task or mission for which one is sent. It emphasizes a divine initiative and purpose behind the sending.
- ἐμὲ λαμβάνει (eme lambanei): "receives me." This establishes the direct identification. To welcome Jesus' emissaries is to welcome Jesus Himself, underscoring the spiritual unity between the sender and the sent.
- ὁ δὲ ἐμὲ λαμβάνων (ho de eme lambanōn): "and he who receives me." This continues the chain of identification, emphasizing the one who welcomes Christ directly.
- τὸν πέμψαντά με (ton pempsanta me): "Him who sent me." This refers directly to God the Father. It completes the chain: receiving the sent leads to receiving Christ, which leads to receiving God the Father.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Truly, truly, I say to you": This solemn declaration underscores the gravity and infallibility of the truth Jesus is about to impart, characteristic of His teaching authority in John's Gospel.
- "he who receives whomever I send receives me": This phrase defines the vicarious nature of the disciples' future ministry. They are not merely messengers, but embodiments of Christ's presence and authority. It provides comfort and encouragement to the disciples regarding their legitimacy and the efficacy of their mission.
- "and he who receives me receives Him who sent me": This extends the principle upward to the divine source. It highlights the inseparable unity within the Trinity concerning mission. To accept Jesus is to accept the Father, revealing the profound, unified nature of the divine economy of salvation. The chain of reception—from representative to Christ, from Christ to the Father—is complete.
John 13 20 Bonus section
This verse can be understood as Jesus "deputizing" His followers. Just as an ambassador represents a king, carrying the full authority of the monarch, so too do those sent by Christ represent Him, carrying His authority and spiritual presence. This is not about the individual merit of the one sent, but about the commissioning authority of Jesus and, through Him, the Father. This principle transcends the original twelve apostles and extends to all who are genuinely called and sent by Christ to proclaim His truth and carry out His work. The authenticity of the message and the faithfulness to the sender are paramount for this chain of reception to hold true. It sets the stage for the New Testament understanding of the Church's mission and the authority vested in those who shepherd and preach in Christ's name.
John 13 20 Commentary
John 13:20 serves as a foundational declaration of apostolic and ministerial authority within the Kingdom of God. It affirms that genuine spiritual representation carries the very presence and authority of the sender. For the disciples, it was an empowering promise, establishing their future legitimacy as His representatives in the world, particularly important as Jesus prepared for His departure. This authority is not self-derived but delegated from Christ, who Himself is sent by the Father. The act of "receiving" signifies acceptance, honor, and allegiance to the message and the sender. Conversely, as other scriptures highlight (e.g., Lk 10:16), rejection of the genuine messenger is a rejection of Christ and, ultimately, a rejection of God Himself. This verse underscores the sacred trust placed upon those who are sent and the profound spiritual implications for those who respond to their message. It emphasizes that humble service (as exemplified in the foot washing) is integrally linked with the authority to represent Christ.
- Example for practical usage: When a congregation genuinely welcomes and heeds the biblical teaching and pastoral care of a minister who is faithfully proclaiming Christ, they are, in effect, welcoming Christ and responding to God's Word through him.
- Example for practical usage: Extending hospitality or support to Christian missionaries in distant lands, who have been "sent" to share the Gospel, is an act of receiving Christ through them.