John 15

9-11. continue ye in my love--not, "Continue to love Me," but, "Continue in the possession and enjoyment of My love to you"; as is evident from the next words.

10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love--the obedient spirit of true discipleship cherishing and attracting the continuance and increase of Christ's love; and this, He adds, was the secret even of His own abiding in His Father's love!

12-16. That ye love one another,

13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends--The emphasis lies not on "friends," but on "laying down his life" for them; that is, "One can show no greater regard for those dear to him than to give his life for them, and this is the love ye shall find in Me."

14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you--hold yourselves in absolute subjection to Me.

15. Henceforth I call you not servants--that is, in the sense explained in the next words; for servants He still calls them ( John 15:20 ), and they delight to call themselves so, in the sense of being "under law to Christ" ( 1 Corinthians 9:20 ).
the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth--knows nothing of his master's plans and reasons, but simply receives and executes his orders.
but . . . friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you--admitted you to free, unrestrained fellowship, keeping back nothing from you which I have received to communicate. (Compare Genesis 18:17 , Psalms 25:14 , Isaiah 50:4 ).

16. Ye have not chosen me, but I . . . you--a wholesale memento after the lofty things He had just said about their mutual indwelling, and the unreservedness of the friendship they had been admitted to.
ordained--appointed.
you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit--that is, give yourselves to it.
and that your fruit should remain--showing itself to be an imperishable and ever growing principle. (Compare Proverbs 4:18 , 2 John 1:8 ).
that whatsoever ye shall ask,

17-21. The substance of these important verses has occurred more than once before. Luke 12:49-53 , &c.).

24. If I had not done . . . the works which none other . . .

25. that the word might be fulfilled . . . They hated me without a cause--quoted from the Messianic Psalms 69:4 , applied also in the same sense in John 2:17 , Acts 1:20 , Romans 11:9 Romans 11:10 , 15:3 .