Giovanni 13:17

17 Se sapete queste cose, voi siete beati se le fate.

Giovanni 13:17 Meaning and Commentary

John 13:17

If ye know these things
The duties they owed to him, and one another; those kind offices of love and respect to each other; the humility, condescension, and brotherly love, which ought to be in them, and of which he had given them an example:

happy are ye if ye do them;
for the bare theory, or a mere speculative knowledge of these things, is not sufficient; not he that knows and does not, but he that knows and does his master's will, is blessed; he is blessed with communion with his Lord, and shall hereafter enter into his joy, with "well done good and faithful servant". There is an happiness "in" doing well, and which follows "on" it, though not "for" it, in a way of merit; on the other hand, persons who know and do not, are very unhappy; the Jews have a saying F1,

``(twvel alv dmlhv) , "he that learns but not to do", it would have been better for him, if he had never been created; and says R. Jochanan, he that learns but not to do, it would have been better for him if his secundine had been turned upon his face, and he had never come into the world.''


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Hieros. Beracot, fol. 3. 2.

Giovanni 13:17 In-Context

15 Perchè io vi ho dato esempio, acciocchè, come ho fatto io, facciate ancor voi.
16 In verità, in verità, io vi dico, che il servitore non è maggior del suo signore, nè il messo maggior di colui che l’ha mandato.
17 Se sapete queste cose, voi siete beati se le fate.
18 Io non dico di voi tutti; io so quelli che io ho eletti; ma conviene che s’adempia questa scrittura: Colui che mangia il pane meco ha levato contro a me il suo calcagno.
19 Fin da ora io vel dico, avanti che sia avvenuto; acciocchè, quando sarà avvenuto, crediate ch’io son desso.
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