John 13:17

17 Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!

John 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.

John 13:17 In-Context

15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you.
16 I am telling you the truth: no slaves are greater than their master, and no messengers are greater than the one who sent them.
17 Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!
18 "I am not talking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the scripture must come true that says, "The man who shared my food turned against me.'
19 I tell you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that "I Am Who I Am.'
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.