John 14:23 kjv
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 14:23 nkjv
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
John 14:23 niv
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
John 14:23 esv
Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 14:23 nlt
Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.
John 14 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Love & Obedience (Conditional Action) | ||
| Jn 14:15 | If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. | Direct parallel: love necessitates obedience. |
| Jn 15:10 | If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love... | Love and obedience lead to abiding in God. |
| 1 Jn 5:3 | For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments... | Love for God defined by keeping His commands. |
| Deut 6:5-6 | You shall love the Lord your God... and these words which I command you... | Old Covenant basis of love and instruction. |
| Psa 119:1-2 | Blessed are those whose way is blameless... who keep His testimonies. | Blessings tied to adherence to God's law. |
| Rom 13:8-10 | Love is the fulfillment of the law. | Love as the comprehensive fulfilling of commands. |
| Divine Indwelling & Presence (Consequence of Obedience) | ||
| Jn 14:17 | ...He [the Spirit] dwells with you and will be in you. | The Spirit's indwelling enables this presence. |
| Jn 14:26 | ...the Helper, the Holy Spirit... will teach you all things... | The Spirit's role in facilitating obedience. |
| Jn 15:4 | Abide in Me, and I in you. | Mutual indwelling. |
| Jn 17:23 | I in them, and You in Me... that they may be perfected in unity. | Prayer for unity and mutual indwelling. |
| Rom 8:9-11 | ...the Spirit of God dwells in you... | Spirit's indwelling makes one God's temple. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells...? | Believers as spiritual temples. |
| 1 Cor 6:19 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...? | Personal body as the dwelling of the Spirit. |
| Eph 2:22 | ...in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place... | Corporate spiritual dwelling for God. |
| Col 1:27 | ...Christ in you, the hope of glory. | The mystery of Christ's presence in believers. |
| Heb 3:6 | ...we are His house if we hold fast our confidence... | Believers collectively as God's house. |
| Rev 3:20 | Behold, I stand at the door and knock... and I will dine with him... | Intimate fellowship initiated by Christ. |
| Rev 21:3 | ...the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them. | Eschatological fulfillment of God's presence. |
| Father and Son Unity/Shared Action | ||
| Jn 10:30 | I and the Father are one. | Basis for "We will come." |
| Jn 17:21 | ...that they also may be in Us... | The Father and Son desiring intimate union with believers. |
| Col 2:9 | For in Him [Christ] all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form. | Jesus as the physical dwelling of God's fullness. |
| The "Word" (Logos/Teaching) | ||
| Lk 11:28 | Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. | Hearing and obeying God's word brings blessing. |
John 14 verses
John 14 23 Meaning
This verse declares that genuine love for Jesus is demonstrated by obedience to His teachings. In response to such obedient love, both God the Father and God the Son will actively extend Their love to the individual believer and establish a permanent, intimate dwelling place within them. It reveals a profound, reciprocal relationship between divine love, human obedience, and the personal indwelling of the Godhead.
John 14 23 Context
John 14:23 occurs within Jesus' extensive farewell discourse to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion. The disciples are troubled by Jesus' imminent departure (Jn 14:1). Jesus comforts them with promises of a place in His Father's house (Jn 14:2-3), the sending of the Holy Spirit as Helper (Jn 14:16-17, 26), and His future return. This particular verse is a direct response to Judas (not Iscariot)'s question in John 14:22, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to manifest Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus clarifies that His manifestation to believers is not a public spectacle but an intimate spiritual indwelling, conditioned on obedient love. Historically and culturally, this teaching contrasts with the Jewish expectation of a Messiah establishing a physical kingdom and God dwelling primarily in the Jerusalem Temple. Jesus redefines divine presence as internal and relational, available to any who love and obey Him.
John 14 23 Word analysis
- Jesus: Represents the divine Son, the promised Messiah, who embodies truth and revelation.
- answered: Implies a direct reply to Judas's specific question (Jn 14:22) regarding Jesus' manifestation to believers.
- and said to him: Emphasizes a personal instruction within the discourse, clarifying spiritual realities over external expectations.
- If anyone: Signifies that this promise is available to all, making no distinction based on race, gender, or social status, but dependent on a personal choice and response.
- loves: (Greek: ἀγαπᾷ, agapa) Refers to agapē love—a selfless, sacrificial, deliberate, and action-oriented love. It's not primarily emotional affection but a conscious commitment to Christ and His will. This kind of love motivates and finds its expression in devotion.
- Me: Refers specifically to Jesus himself. The object of this love is His person, teachings, and authority.
- he will keep: (Greek: τηρήσει, tērēsei) Conveys more than mere adherence. It means to guard, preserve, observe, pay attention to, maintain, and obey. It suggests active, continuous, and careful obedience born out of respect and loyalty, implying deep internalization rather than just external compliance.
- My word: (Greek: τὸν λόγον τὸν ἐμόν, ton logon ton emon) Singular, signifying the entirety of Jesus' teaching, His unified revelation, His message, His command, and ultimately Himself as the Logos (Jn 1:1, 14). It refers to the consistent message and ethos of Christ, not just individual isolated commands.
- and My Father will love him: Introduces the Father's reciprocal action. This is not conditional for God's initial love, but rather a manifestation of special intimacy and approval bestowed upon those who demonstrate love and obedience to Jesus. It emphasizes the unified purpose and action of the Trinity.
- and We: "We" collectively refers to God the Father and God the Son, highlighting their unity and co-presence. It underscores the Trinitarian nature of this divine indwelling.
- will come to him: Implies a divine initiative. The Father and Son actively enter the life of the believer, establishing a close relationship. This "coming" signifies the presence and power of the Godhead with the believer.
- and make Our home: (Greek: μονὴν ποιησόμεθα, monēn poiēsometha) This phrase, literally "make a dwelling place/abode for Ourselves," signifies a permanent, settled residence rather than a temporary visit. It points to a deep, abiding, and personal intimacy where the Father and Son take up residence in the heart and life of the believer. It connects conceptually to monai (dwelling places) Jesus prepares in heaven (Jn 14:2) and the concept of 'abiding' (menō) which is central to John's Gospel.
- with him: Underscores the intimate, personal, and continuous nature of this divine indwelling within the individual believer.
- "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word": This establishes a direct and causative link. True love for Jesus is not just sentiment but finds its authentic expression and proof in willing obedience to His whole teaching. It's an internal posture translating into external action.
- "and My Father will love him": This clause reveals the unity of the Godhead. Love for Jesus and obedience to His word triggers the Father's profound reciprocal love and favor upon the believer, signifying a deepening of the relationship with the entire Godhead.
- "and We will come to him and make Our home with him": This is the culmination and glorious promise. The Father and Son, in divine unity, take up a permanent and intimate residence within the believer. This marks the believer as a new temple, a sacred space where God Himself chooses to dwell, establishing an unparalleled relationship that surpasses all Old Covenant forms of divine presence.
John 14 23 Bonus section
The concept of God "making His home" within a believer dramatically redefines the understanding of "temple" in the New Covenant. Previously, God's dwelling was in a physical structure, limited by space and priesthood. Here, Jesus promises an intimate, individualized indwelling, democratizing God's presence. This also sets the stage for the role of the Holy Spirit, who would actively mediate this divine presence (as detailed in John 14:16-17, 26). The phrase "make Our home" is related to the Greek word menō ("to abide"), a key Johannine theme emphasizing permanent union and ongoing fellowship, linking a believer's indwelling in Christ to Christ's and the Father's indwelling in the believer. This implies a transformation from an external observance of law to an internal, empowered life of love and obedience, with God Himself residing and working within.
John 14 23 Commentary
John 14:23 elucidates the profound reality of Christ's teaching on the spiritual manifestation of God. It presents a simple yet profound covenantal dynamic: human obedient love triggers divine indwelling. Love for Jesus (ἀγαπᾷ) is not a fleeting emotion but a deliberate, loyal commitment that manifests as a willingness to "keep His word" (τηρήσει), embracing His entire revelation. This practical obedience is not burdensome but a joyful response of love. The unparalleled result is the Father's reciprocal love and the magnificent promise that both Father and Son will personally and permanently "make their home" (μονὴν ποιησόμεθα) within the believer. This signifies an intimate, constant, and life-transforming communion, replacing the Old Testament Temple's localized presence with an internalized, personal, Trinitarian dwelling in every obedient heart. It’s an invitation to a deeply relational and participatory experience of God's presence.
- Example: A disciple, deeply valuing Jesus' instruction to "love your neighbor as yourself," actively seeks out and helps someone in need, not out of duty, but out of their sincere love for Jesus. In this act, they experience a profound sense of God's nearness and spiritual affirmation, knowing the Father and Son are indeed dwelling within and working through them.