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 |
|---|---|---|
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Foundation of the conditional |
| John 15:10 | "If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love," | Assurance of remaining in love |
| 1 John 2:3-5 | "By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar," | Evidence of true knowledge of Christ |
| 1 John 5:3 | "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." | Love for God demonstrated by obedience |
| Deuteronomy 11:22 | "For if you will be careful to keep all this commandment that I command you today, to love the LORD your God and to walk in all his ways," | Old Testament call to obedience |
| Psalm 119:1-2 | "Blessed are the wholehearted, who walk in the way of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart," | Blessings for keeping God's testimonies |
| Matthew 7:24-25 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." | Result of heeding Jesus' words |
| John 15:7 | "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." | Conditional promise for abiding |
| Romans 8:9-11 | "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you." | Indwelling Spirit |
| 1 Corinthians 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" | Believers as God's dwelling place |
| Galatians 4:6 | "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" | Father's presence through the Spirit |
| Revelation 3:20 | "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." | Christ's invitation to fellowship |
| Acts 17:28 | "...for 'In him we live and move and have our being.'" | God's immanence |
| Hebrews 13:5 | "...he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" | God's faithfulness |
| 1 John 4:12-13 | "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us." | God's abiding in believers |
| John 6:56 | "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." | Intimate union with Christ |
| Colossians 1:27 | "...Christ in you, the hope of glory." | Christ's presence within believers |
| Zechariah 2:10 | "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD." | God's dwelling among His people |
| Isaiah 57:15 | "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,'" | God dwelling with the humble |
| John 14:2-3 | "In my Father's house are many rooms... I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may also be." | Promise of future dwelling |
John 14 verses
John 14 23 Meaning
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 Context
This verse is part of Jesus' farewell discourse to His disciples in the upper room before His crucifixion. He is addressing their anxiety about His departure. Jesus assures them that His leaving is not an abandonment but a preparation for their eternal future. He has just spoken of many rooms in His Father's house, indicating His mission is to prepare a place for them. This verse then connects the disciples' love for Jesus and their obedience to His teachings with an assurance of His and the Father's intimate and abiding presence in their lives now and in eternity. The preceding verses discuss Jesus' role as the way, the truth, and the life, and the disciples' knowledge of the Father through Him. This promise offers profound comfort and a clear pathway to experiencing God's presence.
John 14 23 Word Analysis
- If (Ἐὰν - ean): A conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical situation that, if met, will lead to a certain result. It sets up a premise for the ensuing promise.
- anyone (τις - tis): Refers to any individual, emphasizing the personal nature of this promise; it's not limited to a select few but to all who meet the condition.
- loves (ἀγαπᾷ - agapā): From "agape," this verb signifies a deep, self-sacrificial love, a volitional love that chooses to cherish and obey. It's more than an emotion; it's an active commitment.
- me (ἐμέ - eme): Jesus Himself, the object of this active love.
- he will keep (τηρήσει - tērēsei): From "tērein," meaning to guard, to preserve, to observe, to obey. It implies more than a passive acknowledgment; it’s an active, diligent adherence to Christ's commands and teachings.
- my word (τὸν ἐμὸν λόγον - ton emon logon): Refers to Jesus' teachings, His spoken words, His commands, and His very essence as the Word of God (John 1:1). Keeping His word means internalizing and acting upon His truth.
- and (καὶ - kai): Connects the preceding condition and its immediate outcome to a further, greater outcome.
- my Father (ὁ πατήρ μου - ho patēr mou): Emphasizes the unity between Jesus and the Father. The Father's love and presence are inextricably linked to the Son.
- will love (ἀγαπήσει - agapēsei): The Father's response is also a volitional, active love toward the one who loves and obeys the Son.
- him (αὐτόν - auton): The recipient of the Father's love.
- and (καὶ - kai): Introduces a joint action from both the Father and the Son.
- we (ἡμεῖς - hēmeis): A significant plural, referring to the Father and the Son, signifying their unified intention and action.
- will come (ἐλευσόμεθα - eleusometha): A future tense verb indicating a definite coming. This signifies more than a spiritual awareness but a tangible presence.
- to him (πρὸς αὐτὸν - pros auton): Direction of the divine approach.
- and (καὶ - kai): Connects the coming with the resulting action of dwelling.
- will make our home (μονὴν ποιησόμεθα - monēn poiēsomen): "Monē" means dwelling place, abode, habitation. "Poiēsōmetha" is a future tense verb meaning to make, to do, to create. It speaks of establishing a permanent residence, a deep, intimate fellowship.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word": This phrase establishes a direct, causal link between love for Christ and obedience to His teachings. True love for Jesus is expressed and evidenced through faithful adherence to what He has said and taught. It highlights that this is not mere emotionalism but active discipleship.
- "and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him": This part details the promised blessings flowing from that obedient love. It involves the Father's reciprocal love and, crucially, the joint, abiding presence of both the Father and the Son within the believer. The emphasis is on intimacy, permanence, and a unified divine inhabitation.
John 14 23 Bonus Section
The concept of God making His home with believers signifies a revolutionary shift. In the Old Testament, God's dwelling was primarily in the Tabernacle and Temple. While God's presence was real, this promise in John 14 extends it to the individual heart, made possible by the incarnation, sacrificial death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is further developed in the epistles, portraying believers as the "temple of the living God" (1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16). The language of "making our home" speaks of permanence and intimacy, not just a transient visit. This truth assures believers that they are never alone; God's divine essence and presence are meant to dwell within them, transforming them into His dwelling place.
John 14 23 Commentary
This verse offers a foundational truth about experiencing God's presence. Jesus clarifies that genuine love for Him is demonstrated through obedience to His word. This obedience isn't a burden but a natural expression of love, unlocking a profound blessing: the mutual love of the Father and Son, and their intimate, permanent dwelling within the believer. It’s a promise of constant companionship, not conditional on fluctuating feelings, but rooted in the faithful love that responds to Christ's teachings. This indwelling signifies a deep relationship where God actively inhabits and transforms the believer.
- Practical application: When faced with a difficult decision, asking oneself, "What would Jesus have me do?" and choosing to act on that answer demonstrates keeping His word, inviting His presence.
- Fellowship with God: By consistently meditating on and obeying scripture, one cultivates an environment where God's presence is keenly felt, deepening the intimacy of fellowship.