Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
10. If ye keep ] See on Joh 14:15; Joh 14:21; Joh 14:24. To keep His commandments not only proves our love for Him but secures His love for us.
I have kept my Father’s commandments ] This being in a subordinate sentence the tremendous import of it is liable to pass unnoticed. Looking back over a life of thirty years Jesus says, ‘I have kept the Father’s commandments.’ Would the best man that ever lived, if only a man, dare to make such a statement? See on Joh 14:30.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See Joh 14:23-24.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Joh 15:10
If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love
The condition of abiding in Christs love
What is implied in that keeping of His commandments, which is essential to abiding in His love?
The keeping of all those commandments of His
I. WHICH REFER TO THE MAINTAINING OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION WITH HIMSELF. He kept constantly all such commandments of His Father, and so continued in His Fathers love. If we would abide in Christs love, we must imitate Him and make an earnest use of the means of grace. There are those who neglect these, and thus plainly do not keep Gods commandments. There are others who do not quite neglect them, and yet do not use them as Christs commandments require, and therefore not so as to benefit by them.
II. WHICH REQUIRE US TO BE LIKE HIMSELF IN SPIRIT. We must seek after the wisdom, truthfulness, delicacy of feeling, purity of heart, disinterestedness, patience, humility, charity, piety, and all those other excellencies which were included in His perfection. What a number of people there are so engrossed in business that they can find no time for moral, or mental, or spiritual culture! Others, again, feel that Christ has claims upon them, and that they should be at work in His service; but they are not thoughtful, and do not realize how much of Christs work is inward, not outward. There is a great deal of so-called doing good which is very worthless and comes to nothing, because it does not flow naturally from real inward goodness. Be good and you will do good, without having to go out of your way to seek to do it.
III. WHICH REFER TO THE ORDINARY COMMON DUTIES OF DAILY LIFE–to the relationships in which we are placed by nature and Providence; and if we would continue in Christs love, we must be careful to obey these. The Christian life is to fill and beautify our whole existence. It is not by what a man does on special occasions in public, or to those who seldom come into contact with him, that you can form an accurate estimate of him, but by his daily ordinary life–by knowing what sort of son or brother he has been, or what sort of a husband he is. Love to Christ will show itself much better there than anywhere else. It is especially through these that God seeks to train into order and obedience, into nobleness and freedom, the souls of the children of men.
IV. WHICH POINT US TO A LIFE OF ACTIVE BENEFICENCE; and if we would continue in His love, we must do good to all men. Christs death for all men pledges us to the love of all men. To abide in the love of Christ, we must seek to lessen pain and suffering, ignorance and crime, wrong and injustice, and to make all to whom our influence can reach better and happier. Thus living in love to our brethren, for whom Christ died, we shall live in the love of Christ, who died for them as well as for us. (R. Flint, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 10. If ye keep my commandments, &c.] Hence we learn that it is impossible to retain a sense of God’s pardoning love, without continuing in the obedience of faith.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Abiding in Christs love, in this verse, may be interpreted as before; either actively, you shall continue your love to me, according to what we had, Joh 14:15; obedience to the commandments of Christ being the only way to show and declare the truth of our love to Christ. Or else passively, you shall keep yourselves in my favour, I will love you. Thus I abide in my Fathers love; I do not show love to my Father by my words and expressions only, nor by performance of some ceremonial ritual services, which he hath required; but by fulfilling his whole will and counsel, by yielding an obedience to him in all things. I love you as my Father loveth me; and you must abide in my love by the same ways and means that I abide in my Fathers love. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. If ye keep my commandments, yeshall abide in my lovethe obedient spirit of true discipleshipcherishing and attracting the continuance and increase of Christ’slove; and this, He adds, was the secret even of His own abiding inHis Father’s love!
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love,…. Not that their continuance in the heart’s love and affection of Christ depended upon their observation of his commands; for as the keeping of them is not the cause or reason of the saints having an interest in the love of Christ, so it is not the cause or reason of their abiding in it; but to such that observe the commandments of Christ he will continue to make further discoveries of his love, and let them see more clearly and largely what a value he has for them, and how much he loves them: or the sense is, that by keeping the commandments of Christ, his disciples and followers show that they love him, and continue in their affection to him:
even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. The commandments of the Father kept by Christ were not only the precepts of the moral law, and the rites of the ceremonial one, which he strictly observed; but the preaching of the Gospel, and submitting to the ordinances of it, doing of miracles, and laying down his life for his people; in performing which, as his Father testified his approbation of them, and how strongly he was affected to him, what an abiding he had in his love; so Christ hereby showed his constant and continued love to his Father; and which was done by him, that the world, as well as his disciples, might know how much he loved him; see Joh 14:31.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ye will abide (). Future tense of , conclusion of the third-class condition ( and first aorist active subjunctive ). The correlative of 14:15. Each involves the other (love and keeping the commandments of Jesus).
And abide ( ). The high example of Jesus (the Son) in relation to the Father is set before us as the goal.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “If ye keep my commandments,” lean tas entolas mou teresate) “if you all (as my church disciples) keep or guard my commandments,” as I have kept my Father’s commandments, Joh 14:15; Joh 17:4-5.
2) “Ye shall abide in my love; (meneite en te agape mou) “You all shall remain in my love,” or have the benefit of my love and care, Joh 14:21; Joh 14:23.
3) “Even as I have kept my Father’s commandments,” (kathos ego tou patros mou tas entolas tetereka) “Just as I have kept, guarded, or observed my Father’s commandments,” Joh 8:28.
4) “And abide in his love.” (kai meno autou en te agape) “And I remain in his love,” for the “Father loveth (continually) the Son,” Joh 3:35; Joh 5:22; Joh 5:26-27.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
10. If you keep my commandments. He points out to us the method of perseverance. his, to follow where he calls, for, as Paul says,
They who are in Christ walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, (Rom 8:1.)
For these two things are continually united, that faith which perceives the undeserved love of Christ toward us, and a good conscience and newness of life. And, indeed, Christ does not reconcile believers to the Father, that they may indulge in wickedness without reserve, and without punishment; but that, governing them by his Spirit, he may keep them under the authority and dominion of his Father. Hence it follows, that the love of Christ is rejected by those who do not prove, by true obedience, that they are his disciples.
If any one object that, in that case, the security of our salvation depends on ourselves, I reply, it is wrong to give such a meaning to Christ’s words; for the obedience which believers render to him is not the cause why he continues his love toward us, but is rather the effect of his love. For whence comes it that they answer to their calling, but because they are led by the Spirit of adoption of free grace?
But again, it may be thought that the condition imposed on us is too difficult, that we should keep the commandments of Christ, which contain the absolute perfection of righteousness, — a perfection which far exceeds our capacity, — for hence it follows, that the love of Christ will be useless, if we be not endued with angelical purity. The answer is easy; for when Christ speaks of the desire of living a good and holy life, he does not exclude what is the chief article in his doctrine, namely, that which alludes to righteousness being freely imputed, in consequence of which, through a free pardon, our duties are acceptable to God, which in themselves deserved to be rejected as imperfect and unholy. Believers, therefore, are reckoned as keeping the commandments of Christ when they apply their earnest attention to them, though they be far distant from the object at which they aim; for they are delivered from that rigorous sentence of the law,
Cursed be he that hath not confirmed all the words of this law to do them, (Deu 27:26).
As I also have kept my Father’s commandments. As we have been elected in Christ, so in him the image of our calling is exhibited to us in a lively manner; and therefore he justly holds himself out to us as a pattern, to the imitation of which all the godly ought to be conformed. “In me,” says he, “is brightly displayed the resemblance of those things which I demand from you; for you see how sincerely I am devoted to obedience to my Father, and how I persevere in this course. My Father, too, hath loved me, not for a moment, or for a short time, but his love toward me is constant.” This conformity between the Head and the members ought to be always placed before our eyes, not only that believers may form themselves after the example of Christ, but that, they may entertain a confident hope that his Spirit will every day form them anew to be better and better, that they may walk to the end in newness of life.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.Comp. Joh. 14:21; Joh. 14:24. keeping of His commandments is the outward proof of love towards Him; so that the love of the human heart towards Christ, which itself flows from Christs love to us (see Note on previous verse), becomes the condition of abiding in that love. While we cherish love for Him, our hearts are abiding in that state which can receive His love for us.
Even as I have kept my Fathers commandments . . .Comp. Note on Joh. 15:9 and reference there. This is again an appeal to His perfect sinlessness, and willing subordination as Son to the Father. We should notice also that the keeping of the commandments is not an arbitrary condition imposed upon human love; but a necessary result of love itself, and therefore as true in the relation of the Son to the Father as it is in our relation to Him. Because the Son loved the Father, therefore He kept His commandments, and in this love He abode in the Fathers love. Because we love God we necessarily keep His commandments, and in this love is the receptive power which constitutes abiding in the divine love.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. If ye keep my commandments kept my Father’s commandments The fourth attainment is a love from the believer to Christ, evidenced by an obedience to his commandments paralleled only by the love of Christ to the Father. So that, reciprocally, as in the last verse we have a perfect love of Christ toward his elect, so here we have a perfect accord of heart and will from the elect to the Redeemer.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Ver. 10. Even as I have kept my Father’s ] Christ’s obedience must be our pattern of imitation. All his actions were either moral or mediatory. In both we are to imitate him. In the former by doing as he did,Mat 11:29Mat 11:29 ; 1Pe 2:23 . In the latter, by similitude, translating that to our spiritual life which he did as mediator; as to die to sin, to rise to righteousness.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10. ] The way thus to remain is prescribed; even that way of simple obedience to His Will, which He followed to the Will of the Father.
On , see above: in the last clause, is prefixed , as Meyer well says, to denote the high consciousness of bliss and dignity in abiding in the Father’s love.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 15:10 . That possibility is defeated, . To encourage them in keeping His commandments He reminds them that He also has been subject to the same conditions, and by keeping the Father’s commandments has remained in His love.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
keep. Greek. tereo. Compare Joh 8:51, Joh 8:2, Joh 8:55; Joh 14:15, Joh 14:21, Joh 14:23, Joh 14:24.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10.] The way thus to remain is prescribed; even that way of simple obedience to His Will, which He followed to the Will of the Father.
On , see above: in the last clause, is prefixed, as Meyer well says, to denote the high consciousness of bliss and dignity in abiding in the Fathers love.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 15:10. , I have kept) even up to the moment of My departure from the world: 1Jn 4:17, Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. As He was when He went out of the world, so He is always.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 15:10
Joh 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;-God is the Ruler of the universe. Everything in the universe continues in harmony with God by complying with the laws God gives to govern the universe. Everything in harmony with God and so with the laws of the universe will receive God through the workings of the laws of the universe. Everything not in harmony with the laws of the universe must be brought to ruin by the workings of the laws God has given to control the universe. [How different is Christs teaching all through this evening from the vague rhapsodies of many so-called spiritual lights of today! How intensely practical! Keep my commandments is the ever-recurring refrain of this divine music. It is the product, but it is also the condition of spiritual life.]
even as I have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in his love.-Jesus was the most highly blessed and honored of all the spirits in the universe, because he more than any other being kept the laws of God. Jesus showed his love for the Father and remained in that love by keeping his commandments, so we can show our love to Jesus by keeping his commandments. This is the rule by which God tested his Son, and all his disciples are tested by the same rule. It is vain, a mockery of God, to claim to be his disciple, or to believe in him, while we refuse to keep his commandments. [Jesus has thus reached the climax of his exhortation, and now presents the blessed result of heeding it.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
I Have Called You Friends
Joh 15:10-16
We must estimate the Fathers love to Jesus before we can measure His love to us. We are told to love one another with the same love, but enabling power is needed, or we can never fulfill His command. Our love is not like His, unless it is prepared to sacrifice itself even unto death. Not servants, but friends! The first stage is that of the bondservant, who does what he is told, not because he understands, but because he has no option. Friendship involves obedience on our part; and on His part the making known of the deep things of God. Even the Son learned obedience by the things which He suffered. It is by implicit obedience alone that we can pass into the closer intimacy of friendship and ultimately of sonship. There is no limit to what the Father will do for those whom His Son calls friends.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
ye keep: Joh 14:15, Joh 14:21, 1Co 7:19, 1Th 4:1, 2Pe 2:21, 1Jo 2:5, 1Jo 3:21-24, 1Jo 5:3, Rev 22:14
even: Joh 4:34, Joh 8:29, Joh 12:49, Joh 14:31, Joh 17:4, Isa 42:1-4, Mat 3:15-17, Heb 7:26, Heb 10:5-10, 1Jo 2:1, 1Jo 2:2
Reciprocal: Exo 7:6 – General Deu 7:13 – he will love Deu 12:28 – General Jdg 16:15 – when thine 2Sa 22:22 – have not 1Ki 2:4 – That the Lord 1Ki 13:9 – For 2Ki 18:6 – kept 2Ch 7:17 – observe Psa 36:10 – continue Psa 119:55 – kept Psa 119:167 – soul Pro 19:16 – keepeth the Isa 42:21 – well Isa 50:5 – General Mat 7:24 – whosoever Mat 11:1 – commanding Mat 11:29 – my Mat 17:5 – in whom Luk 8:15 – keep Joh 8:46 – convinceth Joh 10:17 – General Joh 10:18 – This Joh 13:1 – having Joh 18:11 – my Joh 21:17 – Feed Act 14:22 – exhorting Rom 15:3 – Christ Phi 2:1 – if any comfort Phi 2:8 – and became Col 1:23 – ye continue 1Th 1:3 – and labour Heb 3:2 – faithful Heb 5:8 – yet Jam 1:25 – and 1Jo 2:3 – if we 1Jo 2:24 – ye also 1Jo 3:22 – because 2Jo 1:6 – this is love
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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The figurative form of speech is discarded now, and Jesus expresses the same thoughts in direct language, and exhorts his disciples to keep the commandments in order to abide in His love. (See chapter 14:23).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 15:10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept the Fathers commandments, and abide in his love. The disciples have heard the words abide in my love. How are they to do so? The words before us are an answer to the question; and they constitute a parallel to those which we have already met at Joh 14:20-21, only that now we read not merely of being, but of abiding, the characteristic word of this chapter. It is not simply the doing of special commandments that is thought of (comp. on chap. Joh 13:34), but a complete adoption of the Fathers will by the Son and of the Sons will by us: and this is not spoken of as a proof of love, but as the condition which makes continued love possible. The Father never ceases to love the Son, because the Sons will is the expression of His own. The Son never ceases to love His disciples, because their will is the expression of His will; and without this harmony of will and act union and fellowship are impossible.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Christ had told his disciples in the foregoing verse, that he had loved them, even as the Father had loved him; that is, with an eternal love, with a real and operative love, with an immutable and constant love.
In this verse he directs them how they may continue in the sense of his love; namely, by their constant obedience to his commands, as his obedience to his Father’s commands had secured him a continuance in his Father’s love; If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love: that is, in the sense of my love, and under the sweet apprehensions of it.
Learn hence, That as our obedience to Christ is the best evidence of our love to him, so is it the best mean to preserve and keep us in the sense and assurance of his love to us.