John 15:13

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 15:13

Love for a friend reaches its zenith when one willingly sacrifices his or her life for that friend. Jesus had spoken of His love for His disciples (John 15:12). He would shortly show them how great it was by making the supreme sacrifice for them. After that, they would not only have His command but also His example to follow.Really Jesus did more than lay down His life for His friends. He died for His enemies (cf. Matthew 5:43-47; Romans 5:8-10). However in the context of this audience His... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:1-27

The True Yine. The Witness of the Comforter and of the Apostles1-17. The allegory of the True Vine and its interpretation. The metaphor of ’the vine’ was suggested by ’the fruit of the vine’ which had just been consecrated in the Holy Supper (Matthew 26:29), and the allegory was intended to illustrate the main idea underlying that holy rite, viz. union with Christ. It sets forth Christ as the sole source of spiritual life, and of Christian sanctity. As long as the spiritual union between Christ... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 15:13

(13) Greater love hath no man than this.—Better, . . . hath no one than this. (Comp. Note on John 10:18; John 10:29.) Nothing greater is conceivable in the thought of love. He has spoken of His own love for them as the measure of their love for each other. The thought of this verse dwells upon what His love really was and what theirs should also be. (Comp. especially Note on 1 John 3:16.)That a man lay down his life for his friends.—Better, that any one . . . For the phrase “lay down his life,”... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - John 15:1-27

Christ's Appropriations John 15:0 We shall find some jewel sentences in the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel according to John. The expressions shortly to be quoted may be designated the Appropriations of Christ. He seemed to c aim certain things, ideas, principles, emotions, as peculiarly His own. Christ may be said to be before us now as a great proprietor, talking so clearly, though not too loudly, of the things which belong to Himself. The governing word is 'My'. He goes as it were around... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - John 15:13-17

XIII. NOT SERVANTS, BUT FRIENDS."Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known unto you. Ye did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - John 15:1-27

CHAPTER 15 1. The Vine and the Branch. (John 15:1-8 .) 2. Communion with Him and its Conditions.(John 15:9-16 .) 3. Love One Another! and the Hatred of the World. (John 15:17-27 .) Israel is called a vine in the Old Testament (Psalms 80:8 ; Isaiah 5:1-8 ; Jeremiah 2:21 ; Hosea 10:1 ) and Christ here in this parable takes the place of Israel and is the true vine. His disciples are the branches. Israel under the law covenant could not bear fruit for God, as the law cannot be the source of... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:1-27

THE MINISTRY OF EXHORTATION CHRIST THE TRUE VINE (vs.1-8) The Lord's ministry of comfort, or of binding up, has been seen in chapter 14. Now in chapter 15 it is that of stirring up, or of exhortation. If, as we have seen, the sacred presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a precious sanctuary, yet our feet walk on earth, and there must be the trial of faith, the practical test of reality. Israel had been the vine brought out of Egypt and planted in the land (Isaiah 5:17), but in... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - John 15:1-27

CENTRAL TEACHING CONTINUED The fundamental subject of this discourse is that of the relation of believers to Jesus Christ in respect to practical life under the coming dispensation: 1. The relation of members who share in His life and thereby bring forth fruit unto God (John 15:1-8 ). 2. The relation of friends who share in His love and maintain its continuance and manifest its effect by love to each other (John 15:9-17 ). 3. The relation of followers who share in His work toward the world,... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - John 15:1-27

The Self-revelation of Christ John 14:0 , John 15:0 We cannot understand the opening of the fourteenth chapter unless we read it in immediate connection with the close of the thirteenth. "Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice." "Let" notwithstanding all cowardice and recession and... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - John 15:9-25

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (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. (11) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (12) This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (14) Ye are my friends,... read more

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