John 15:14 kjv
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 15:14 nkjv
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
John 15:14 niv
You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:14 esv
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
John 15:14 nlt
You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 18:17 | Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do... | Abraham, God's confidant |
| Exod 33:11 | Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. | Moses, spoken to as a friend |
| Deut 5:32 | You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you... | Obedience to God's commands |
| Psa 25:14 | The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. | God's friendship for the reverent |
| Prov 18:24 | A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | Value of true friendship |
| Jer 31:33 | But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel...I will put my law within them... | New Covenant obedience from heart |
| Matt 7:21 | Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom...but the one who does the will of my Father... | Doing the will of God |
| Matt 12:50 | For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. | Doing God's will defines family |
| Luke 6:46 | Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? | Hypocrisy of profession without action |
| John 8:31-32 | So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples... | Discipleship rooted in abiding in His word |
| John 14:15 | “If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Love and obedience linked |
| John 14:21 | “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me..." | Keeping commands shows love |
| John 14:23 | If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him... | Reciprocal love from obedience |
| John 15:10 | If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments... | Abiding in love through obedience |
| John 15:12 | “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." | Love as central command |
| Phil 2:8 | And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | Jesus's perfect obedience |
| Heb 5:8-9 | Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered, and being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. | Jesus's obedience perfected Him |
| Jas 2:23 | And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. | Abraham's faith demonstrated through obedience |
| 1 John 2:3-6 | And 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... | Knowing God evidenced by obedience |
| 1 John 3:22-24 | And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. | Receiving from God through obedience |
| 1 John 5:3 | For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. | God's love expressed in obedience |
| 2 John 1:6 | And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. | Walking in love by His commands |
| Rev 22:14 | Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. | Obedience grants access to life |
John 15 verses
John 15 14 Meaning
John 15:14 articulates a foundational principle of the believer's relationship with Jesus: true friendship is demonstrated through active and willing obedience to His commands. It establishes a reciprocal relationship where a disciple’s actions, stemming from love, validate their claim to intimate friendship with the Lord, moving beyond the mere status of a servant.
John 15 14 Context
John 15:14 is part of Jesus's Farewell Discourse (chapters 13-17), delivered to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion. This discourse is a deep revelation of His relationship with them, His teachings, and the future role of the Holy Spirit. Chapter 15 specifically focuses on the analogy of the Vine and the Branches, emphasizing the need for abiding in Christ to bear spiritual fruit. Following this, Jesus transitions to a discourse on His love for the disciples and their calling to love one another. Verse 14 falls within this section, defining the unique intimacy of "friendship" with Him, which goes beyond a master-servant dynamic. Historically, a servant simply obeyed without full knowledge, whereas a friend (philoi) shared intimacy and confided information, often privileged insights into the master's plans. This teaching would have been revolutionary, elevating the disciples to a level of companionship previously unknown with the Divine.
John 15 14 Word analysis
- You: Refers directly to the disciples present and, by extension, to all believers who would follow. It emphasizes individual responsibility and relationship.
- are: States a present reality and identity. It is not an aspiration but a declaration of who they are in relationship to Jesus, contingent on the following clause.
- My: Indicates personal possession and intimate association, emphasizing that this is Jesus's definition of friendship, not a common societal understanding.
- friends: (Greek: philoi, plural of philos). This term signifies deep affection, loyalty, and companionship, a mutual relationship of love and trust, rather than mere acquaintance. In ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish cultures, friendship involved shared interests, common purpose, and often a reciprocal exchange of favors or loyalty. Importantly, in John 15:15, Jesus distinguishes this from "servants" (doulos), who typically had no knowledge of their master's plans. The term highlights Jesus's unprecedented elevation of His disciples.
- if: Introduces a condition or a contingency. This word is crucial, establishing that friendship with Jesus is not unconditional, but predicated on specific actions. It indicates an active participation is required.
- you do: (Greek: poiēte, aorist subjunctive of poieō). This means "to perform," "to keep," "to obey," or "to act." It stresses active, volitional obedience, not merely passive agreement or intellectual assent. It denotes an ongoing, habitual practice rather than a one-time event.
- what I: Signifies the source and authority of the commands. These are not general moral laws but Jesus's specific teachings and instructions, derived from His divine authority.
- command: (Greek: entellomai). Means "to order," "to charge," "to enjoin," "to instruct with authority." It conveys Jesus's authoritative directives, which are expressions of His will and love.
- you: The direct recipients of His commands, emphasizing their responsibility to respond.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "You are My friends": This is a declaration of status and intimacy, not simply an invitation. It conveys the immense privilege of being considered a friend of the incarnate Son of God, who alone grants access to the Father's heart.
- "if you do": This conditional phrase underscores that the status of friendship is contingent upon responsive action. It highlights that friendship with Jesus is dynamic, requiring active participation and lived out commitment, rather than mere profession.
- "what I command you": This clarifies the specific action required: obedience to Jesus's explicit teachings and injunctions. These commands, particularly emphasized in John's Gospel, center on loving God and loving one another (John 13:34, 15:12, 17). Obedience here is not burdensome legalism but a loving response to His love. It's the tangible evidence of true faith and relationship.
John 15 14 Bonus section
The concept of "friend of God" (Greek: philos tou theou) is rare but significant in the Bible, notably applied to Abraham (Jas 2:23, also hinted in Gen 18:17) and Moses (Exod 33:11). These figures were privy to God's secrets and plans, distinguishing them from the general populace. By declaring His disciples "friends," Jesus not only bestows a profound honor but also signifies His intention to reveal His divine purposes to them, lifting the veil of mere service. This shift from servant to friend implies shared intimacy and privilege, transforming the relationship from a hierarchical dynamic to one of affectionate companionship and shared mission. The love relationship outlined in John 15:9-17 is key: Jesus loves His disciples, His disciples love Him by obeying, and their love is perfected in loving one another. This entire passage emphasizes a relational ethic of the Kingdom, founded on Christ's example.
John 15 14 Commentary
John 15:14 is a profound declaration that deepens the understanding of discipleship beyond mere adherence to rules. Jesus unveils an astonishing relationship: He considers His followers His friends. This is radical, elevating them from the status of subservient doulos (servants/slaves) who act without full comprehension of their master's will, to philoi (friends) who are invited into the intimate knowledge of His heart and purpose (as seen in John 15:15).
The crucial "if" clause makes it clear that this friendship is not granted unconditionally based on profession, but actively maintained and proven by genuine obedience. This obedience is not born out of fear or compulsion, but out of a loving response to Jesus's divine authority and His demonstration of love. The commands of Jesus, fundamentally, are expressions of love – to abide in Him, to love God, and to love one another as He has loved us. Therefore, doing "what I command you" is fundamentally an act of reciprocal love, signifying trust, loyalty, and a shared purpose with the Master. It shows a transformed heart that desires to please and align with the will of its Lord.
Examples: A child who obeys a parent out of love and trust, not just duty, builds a stronger relationship. Similarly, in a marriage, fulfilling the needs and desires of one's spouse demonstrates love and strengthens the bond. In Christ, obedience flows from abiding in Him, leading to deeper intimacy and shared divine purpose.