John 14 21

John 14:21 kjv

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 14:21 nkjv

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

John 14:21 niv

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."

John 14:21 esv

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

John 14:21 nlt

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them."

John 14 verses

John 14 21 Meaning

John 14:21 states that genuine love for Jesus is demonstrated by active obedience to His commands. Those who truly possess and live by His teachings are recognized as His beloved. In turn, the Father will reciprocate with His love, and Jesus Himself will bestow His love and make His presence and nature known in a deep, personal way to such obedient disciples. It signifies a profound, covenantal relationship initiated and sustained by responsive love and faithful action.

John 14 21 Context

John 14:21 is a pivotal verse within Jesus' Farewell Discourse (John 13-17), spoken to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion. This chapter focuses on comforting the disciples about His imminent departure, assuring them of His return, and promising the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the "Helper." Jesus emphasizes the spiritual realities of His absence, assuring His disciples of a continuing, deeper relationship. He links the themes of love, obedience, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the believer's future with the Father and Son. Verse 21 follows Jesus' initial command to love Him by keeping His commandments (14:15) and immediately precedes Judas's question about why Jesus will manifest Himself to believers and not to the world (14:22). The entire discourse is geared towards preparing them for life without His physical presence, establishing the foundation for their continued walk in faith and the empowering work of the Spirit.

John 14 21 Word analysis

• He that hath my commandments:

  • He that hath (ὁ ἔχων, ho echōn): Not merely intellectual possession or knowing about the commands, but truly holding them, internalizing them, accepting them as one's own. It implies ownership and commitment. It suggests more than mere head knowledge; it is a heart-level embrace of Christ's teachings.
  • my commandments (τὰς ἐντολάς μου, tas entolas mou): These are Jesus' teachings and injunctions, encompassing not only the moral law clarified and deepened by Him but also His new commandment of love (John 13:34-35). These are distinct from, though deeply rooted in, the Mosaic Law, emphasizing His authority as the divine revealer of God's will.

• and keepeth them:

  • keepeth (τηρῶν, tērōn): This Greek verb means to watch, guard, preserve, observe, or obey. It implies active, careful, and continuous adherence, not a one-time act. It's an ongoing lifestyle of putting Christ's commands into practice, rather than mere casual observance. It speaks of protecting and living out the truth, making it integral to one's conduct.

• he it is that loveth me:

  • loveth me (ἀγαπᾷ με, agapa me): This uses agape, a distinct type of love in Greek. Agape is not primarily an emotion, but a volitional, self-sacrificial, and intentional love expressed through action. It's a chosen devotion. Here, it explicitly states that true agape love for Jesus is proven not by feelings or words, but by the tangible act of obedience.

• and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father:

  • shall be loved (ἀγαπηθήσεται, agapēthēsetai): Passive voice, indicating the Father's active love upon the believer. It is a divine response to human faithfulness, emphasizing God's covenantal love.
  • of my Father (ὑπὸ τοῦ Πατρός μου, hypo tou Patros mou): Underscores the intimate relationship between the Father, Son, and believers. The Father's love for the believer is a direct result of their love and obedience to His Son, a divine approval.

• and I will love him:

  • I will love him (κἀγὼ ἀγαπήσω αὐτόν, kagō agapēsō auton): Jesus explicitly promises His own reciprocal agape love. This reinforces the relational aspect of discipleship—it's not a cold set of rules but a dynamic, loving relationship. This is not just a general love, but a special, intimate love bestowed upon the obedient.

• and will manifest myself to him:

  • will manifest myself (ἐμφανίσω ἐμαυτόν, emfanisō emauton): Emphanizo means to display, reveal, or make visible/known. This is a personal, spiritual revelation or unveiling of Jesus to the obedient heart. It is not a physical reappearance to the world, but an internal, experiential knowledge of His presence, character, and power. This deep insight into Christ's nature is a reward for their devoted obedience, leading to an ever-growing fellowship.

John 14 21 Bonus section

The nature of Jesus' "commands" mentioned here is crucial. They are not burdensome regulations or a legalistic ladder to earn favor. Rather, they flow from His very nature as Love, and their ultimate expression is summed up in the commandment to "love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12). Therefore, "keeping His commandments" is not about following an external set of rules, but living out the divine nature of sacrificial love through the power of the Holy Spirit. This type of obedience is freedom-giving and relational, leading to abundant life, not constrained religiosity. The manifestation of Christ is therefore an increasing awareness and experience of this divine love operating through and in the believer. It’s an escalating cycle where love leads to obedience, obedience opens the door for greater divine love, and greater divine love deepens the spiritual experience of Christ's presence and character. This promise also carries a distinct contrast with how Jesus revealed Himself to the "world"—a contrast that Peter questions in the very next verse. To the world, Jesus manifested Himself in power and teaching. To His obedient disciples, He promises a unique, intimate, and internal revelation of Himself.

John 14 21 Commentary

John 14:21 stands as a profound summary of Christian discipleship, linking love, obedience, and divine intimacy. It fundamentally redefines love for Jesus, moving it beyond mere sentiment or verbal affirmation to active adherence to His teachings. This obedience, a deliberate choice to live according to Christ's way, becomes the undeniable evidence of true affection and devotion. It's a radical concept, suggesting that if there is no obedience, there is no genuine love in God's eyes.

The verse also unveils a divine reciprocity: this obedient love initiates a three-way cascade of love. The Father responds by loving the obedient believer, reflecting His unified heart with the Son. Jesus then pledges His own intimate love, promising to actively engage with and bless such a disciple. The ultimate promise is "I will manifest myself to him"—not a mere emotional feeling, but a deep, spiritual, and ongoing revelation of Jesus' presence and truth within the heart. This "manifestation" signifies an intimate fellowship, an experiential knowing of Christ that goes beyond intellectual understanding. It's how believers continue to "see" and "know" Jesus even in His physical absence, enabled by the Holy Spirit. This promise guards against an impersonal religiosity, instead inviting believers into a living, transforming relationship where divine love is tangible and the Lord's presence is truly felt and understood.

Practical examples:

• Choosing forgiveness instead of retaliation, thus keeping Jesus' command to love enemies.
• Serving a struggling neighbor sacrificially, manifesting the command to love one another.
• Dedicating time to prayer and Scripture, seeking His will and thereby "keeping" His Word.