John 15:12

12 My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. ¹

John 15:12 Meaning and Commentary

John 15:12

This is my commandment, that ye love one another
Christ had been before speaking of his commandments; and he mentions this as the principal one, and to which all the rest may be reduced; for as the precepts of the second table of the moral law may be briefly comprehended in this one duty, love to our neighbour, so all the duties of Christianity, relative to one another, are reducible to this, by love to serve each other. This was the commandment which lay uppermost on Christ's heart, and which he knew, if attended to, the rest could not fail of being observed. The argument by which, and the manner in which, he presses it, is as before:

as I have loved you;
than which nothing can be more strong and forcible; see ( John 13:34 ) .

John 15:12 In-Context

10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

11 "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

12 My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you.

13 The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them.

14 And you are my friends if you do what I command you.

Cross References

• 1. 15.12 Jn 13.34; 15.17; 1 Jn 3.23; 2 John 5.