Giovanni 15:14

14 Voi sarete miei amici, se fate tutte le cose che io vi comando.

Giovanni 15:14 Meaning and Commentary

John 15:14

Ye are my friends
This is an application of the foregoing passage, and more, clearly explains it. The character of "friends", is applied to the disciples of Christ; and belongs, not only to his apostles, but to all that love him, believe in him, and obey him; to whom he has showed himself friendly, by laying down his life for them: for this clearly shows, that Christ had respect in the former words, to his own laying down his life for his people, in consequence of his great love to them; whereby he has made them friends, and who appear to be so by their cheerful obedience to him:

if ye do whatsoever I command you;
not that their doing of the commandments of Christ interested them in his favour; or made them his friends; or was the reason and motive of his laying down his life for them, and showing himself in such a friendly manner to them: but the sense is, that by observing his commands from a principle of love, they would make it appear that they were his friends, being influenced by his grace, and constrained by a sense of his love in dying for them, to act such a part.

Giovanni 15:14 In-Context

12 Quest’è il mio comandamento: Che voi vi amiate gli uni gli altri, come io ho amati voi.

13 Niuno ha maggiore amor di questo: di metter la vita sua per i suoi amici.

14 Voi sarete miei amici, se fate tutte le cose che io vi comando.

15 Io non vi chiamo più servi, perciocchè il servo non sa ciò che fa il suo signore; ma io vi ho chiamati amici, perciocchè vi ho fatte assaper tutte le cose che ho udite dal Padre mio.

16 Voi non avete eletto me, ma io ho eletti voi; e vi ho costituiti, acciocchè andiate, e portiate frutto, e il vostro frutto sia permanente; acciocchè qualunque cosa chiederete al Padre nel mio nome, egli ve la dia.