I AM THE TRUE VINE - Some have supposed that this discourse was delivered in the room where the Lord’s Supper was instituted, and that, as they had made use of wine, Jesus took occasion from that to say that he was the true vine, and to intimate that his blood was the real wine that was to give stre... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY BRANCH IN ME - Everyone that is a true follower of me, that is united to me by faith, and that truly derives grace and strength from me, as the branch does from the vine. The word “branch” includes all the boughs, and the smallest tendrils that shoot out from the parent stalk. Jesus here says... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW YE ARE CLEAN - Still keeping up the figure καθαροί katharoi. It does not mean that they were perfect, but that they had been under a process of purifying by his instructions all the time he had been with them. He had removed their erroneous notions of the Messiah; he had gradually reclaimed the... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIDE IN ME - Remain united to me by a living faith. Live a life of dependence on me, and obey my doctrines, imitate my example, and constantly exercise faith in me. AND I IN YOU - That is, if you remain attached to me, I will remain with you, and will teach, guide, and comfort you. This he proceeds... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE VINE - John 15:1. WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING - The expression “without me” denotes the same as separate from me. As the branches, if separated from the parent stock, could produce no fruit, but would immediately wither and die, so Christians, if separate from Christ, could do nothing. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN, ABIDE NOT IN ME - See John 15:4. If a man is not truly united to him by faith, and does not live with a continual sense of his dependence on him. This doubtless refers to those who are professors of religion, but who have never known anything of true and real connection with him. IS CAST... [ Continue Reading ]
MY WORDS - My doctrine; my commandments. ABIDE IN YOU - Not only are remembered, but are suffered to remain in you as a living principle, to regulate your affections and life. YE SHALL ASK ... - See John 14:13. This promise had particular reference to the apostles. It is applicable to other Christi... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREIN - In this - to wit, in your bearing much fruit. GLORIFIED - Honored. BEAR MUCH FRUIT - Are fruitful in good works; are faithful, zealous, humble, devoted, always abounding in the work of the Lord. This honors God. * Because it shows the excellence of his law which requires it. * Because... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE FATHER HATH LOVED ME - The love of the Father toward his only-begotten Son is the highest affection of which we can conceive. Compare Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5. It is the love of God toward his coequal Son. who is like him in all things, who always pleased him, and who was willing to endure... [ Continue Reading ]
See John 14:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS - The discourse in this and the previous chapter. This discourse was designed to comfort them by the promise of the Holy Spirit and of eternal life, and to direct them in the discharge of their duty. MY JOY - This expression probably denotes the happiness which Jesus had, and would cont... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT - The special law of Christianity, called hence “the new commandment.” See the notes at John 13:34. AS I HAVE LOVED YOU - That is, with the same tender affection, willing to endure trials, to practice self-denials, and, if need be, to lay down your lives for each other, 1 Joh... [ Continue Reading ]
GREATER LOVE HATH ... - No higher expression of love could be given. Life is the most valuable object we possess; and when a man is willing to lay that down for his friends or his country, it shows the utmost extent of love. Even this love for friends has been rarely witnessed. A very few cases like... [ Continue Reading ]
I CALL YOU NOT SERVANTS - This had been the common title by which he addressed them Matthew 10:24; John 12:26; John 13:13; but he had also before this, on one occasion, called them friends Luke 12:4, and on one occasion after this he called them servants, John 15:20. He here means that the ordinary... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE NOT CHOSEN ME - The word here translated “chosen” is that from which is derived the word “elect,” and means the same thing. It is frequently thus translated, Mark 13:20; Matthew 24:22, Matthew 24:24, Matthew 24:31; Colossians 3:12. It refers here, doubtless, to his choosing or electing them... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE WORLD HATE YOU - The friendship of the world they were not to expect, but they were not to be deterred from their work by its hatred. They had seen the example of Jesus. No opposition of the proud, the wealthy, the learned, or the men of power, no persecution or gibes, had deterred him from h... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE WERE OF THE WORLD - If you were actuated by the principles of the world. If, like them, you were vain, earthly, sensual, given to pleasure, wealth, ambition, they would not oppose you. BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF THE WORLD - Because you are influenced by different principles from men of the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THE WORD THAT I SAID ... - At their first appointment to the apostolic office. See Matthew 10:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY NAME’S SAKE - On my account. Because you are my followers and possess my spirit. See the notes at John 14:13. BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOT HIM THAT SENT ME - They will not believe that God has sent me. They do not so understand his character, his justice, or his law, as to see that it was fit that he s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SPOKEN UNTO THEM - Declared unto them the will of God, and made known his requirements. Jesus had not less certainly shown by his own arguments that he was the Messiah than by his miracles. By both these kinds of proof their guilt was to be measured. See John 15:26. No small part of the gospel o... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATETH ME ... - To show them that this was no slight crime, he reminds them that a rejection of himself is also a rejection of God. Such is the union between them, that no one can hate the one without also hating the other. See John 5:19; John 14:7, John 14:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORKS WHICH NONE OTHER MAN DID - The miracles of Jesus surpassed those of Moses and the prophets: * In their number. He healed great multitudes, and no small part of his life was occupied in doing good by miraculous power. * In their nature. They involved a greater exertion of power. He heal... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEIR LAW - Psalms 35:19. All the Old Testament was sometimes called the law. The meaning here is that the same thing happened to him which did to the psalmist. The same words which David used respecting his enemies would express, also, the conduct of the Jews and their treatment of the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ALSO SHALL BEAR WITNESS - You shall be witnesses to the world to urge on them the evidences that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah. HAVE BEEN WITH ME - They had for more than three years seen his works, and were therefore qualified to bear witness of his character and doctrines. FROM THE BEGINNING... [ Continue Reading ]