John 15 17

John 15:17 kjv

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

John 15:17 nkjv

These things I command you, that you love one another.

John 15:17 niv

This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:17 esv

These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

John 15:17 nlt

This is my command: Love each other.

John 15 verses

John 15 17 Meaning

John 15:17 is a definitive commandment from Jesus to His disciples, emphasizing the critical importance of mutual love among them. It signifies that all the preceding teachings about abiding in Him, bearing fruit, and experiencing His joy culminate in this outward demonstration of love for one another. This command is not a mere suggestion but a binding directive, serving as the distinguishing mark and ultimate fruit of their relationship with Christ and the Father.

John 15 17 Context

John 15:17 concludes a rich discourse by Jesus in the Upper Room, a setting of profound intimacy and final instructions before His crucifixion. The chapter begins with the metaphor of the Vine and the Branches (Jn 15:1-8), emphasizing the absolute necessity of abiding in Jesus for spiritual life and fruitfulness. Jesus then links this abiding with obedience to His commands and experiencing His joy (Jn 15:9-11). The commandment to love one another (Jn 15:12) is explicitly introduced as "My commandment" and immediately reinforced by Jesus' self-sacrificial love ("as I have loved you"). He calls His disciples "friends" rather than servants, signifying a deeper relationship marked by shared knowledge of His teachings (Jn 15:13-15). The disciples did not choose Him, but He chose them "that they should go and bear fruit" (Jn 15:16). Thus, John 15:17 acts as a summary and culminating point, framing the ultimate purpose of their calling, fruit-bearing, and deep relationship with Him: the demonstration of love for fellow believers. It anticipates the challenges of a world that will hate them (Jn 15:18ff), making internal love and unity paramount for their survival and mission.

John 15 17 Word analysis

• These things (Ταῦτα - Taūta):
  • Meaning: This plural demonstrative pronoun refers directly back to everything Jesus has just taught in John 15, especially His repeated emphasis on abiding in Him, obeying His commands (v. 10), and the prior command to "love one another as I have loved you" (v. 12).
  • Significance: It collects the entire discourse on the Vine and the Branches, and the subsequent teachings on joy, friendship, choice, and fruit-bearing, pointing to love as the essential summary and purpose of all of it.
• I command (ἐντέλλομαι - entellomai):
  • Meaning: This is a strong verb, indicating a clear, authoritative directive, not a suggestion. It signifies a solemn, binding instruction from Jesus to His disciples.
  • Significance: Jesus is not merely advising or requesting; He is laying down a fundamental, non-negotiable principle for their community life. It underscores the divine imperative behind mutual love.
• you (ὑμῖν - humin):
  • Meaning: Plural "you," addressing the disciples specifically, representing the early community of believers and, by extension, all who follow Christ.
  • Significance: This command is communal. It is directed at the body of believers as a unit, highlighting the relational nature of the command – it is between them, as members of His body.
• that (ἵνα - hina):
  • Meaning: This conjunction introduces a purpose or result clause: "in order that," "so that."
  • Significance: It explicitly states the purpose of Jesus giving these teachings and this commandment: the specific outcome He desires is their mutual love. It highlights the ultimate goal and outcome of their transformed lives and adherence to His word.
• you love (ἀγαπᾶτε - agapāte):
  • Meaning: The verb form of agape love, indicating a volitional, selfless, sacrificial, divine-like love, distinct from phileo (affectionate love) or eros (romantic love). It's a continuous action in the present active tense, implying ongoing, persistent practice.
  • Significance: This is not a feeling, but a deliberate act of the will, mirroring God's own love. It flows from their connection to Jesus, empowered by the Spirit. It's the highest form of Christian love.
• one another (ἀλλήλους - allēlous):
  • Meaning: A reciprocal pronoun, indicating mutuality – the action flows in both directions within the group.
  • Significance: The command is about internal relationships within the Christian community. It speaks to unity, mutual care, service, and understanding among believers, serving as the identifying mark of discipleship to the watching world.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "These things I command you": This phrase establishes the divine authority behind the commandment. "These things" sums up the essence of His teachings in chapter 15, making the ensuing command a condensed requirement rooted in abiding, joy, and fruitfulness. It indicates that the entire life lived in Christ naturally expresses itself in this specific way.
• "that you love one another": This phrase states the central purpose and expected outcome. The hina clause highlights that Christ's commands, presence, and life in believers are for the express purpose of them exhibiting agape love towards each other. This mutual love is not incidental but fundamental to their identity and mission. It defines the communal life of the Church.

John 15 17 Bonus section

The emphasis on "one another" (allēlous) throughout John's Gospel and the New Testament highlights the intensely communal nature of Christian discipleship. Christianity is never meant to be a solitary endeavor. This command necessitates intentional engagement, active service, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice within the believing community. This mutual love stands in stark contrast to the competitive, self-seeking nature often found in the world (polemic against paganism's focus on individual power or honor), offering a unique model of human relationship based on divine love. This internal unity forged through love then becomes the primary apologetic to the world (Jn 17:21), demonstrating the reality of Christ and the Father's love for humanity.

John 15 17 Commentary

John 15:17 succinctly encapsulates Jesus' deepest desire for His followers: a community marked by profound, selfless love for one another. This commandment is the spiritual and ethical climax of Jesus' Vine and Branches discourse. All the prerequisites – abiding in Him, remaining in His love, and experiencing His joy – are intrinsically linked to, and find their tangible expression in, mutual love. It is the identifying characteristic of true discipleship, given both as an example ("as I have loved you," v. 12) and as a divine imperative ("I command you").

This agape love is not merely an emotion but a commitment of the will that prompts sacrificial action and profound care for fellow believers. It flows from the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to live out a love that originates in God Himself. Living out this commandment of mutual love is vital for the unity of believers, for effectively bearing witness to Christ in the world, and for demonstrating the reality of God's presence among them. It is the practical fulfillment of God's law and the ultimate fruit of a life surrendered to Christ.

Examples:

• A church community rallying to support a family facing hardship, providing meals, prayer, and financial aid.
• Believers actively listening to and forgiving one another in times of disagreement, prioritizing unity over personal preferences.
• Christians from diverse backgrounds intentionally seeking fellowship and serving together, reflecting a love that transcends social and cultural barriers.