Johannes 13:17

17 So ihr solches wisset, selig seid ihr, so ihr's tut.

Johannes 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.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Hieros. Beracot, fol. 3. 2.

Johannes 13:17 In-Context

15 Ein Beispiel habe ich euch gegeben, daß ihr tut, wie ich euch getan habe.

16 Wahrlich, wahrlich ich sage euch: Der Knecht ist nicht größer denn sein Herr, noch der Apostel größer denn der ihn gesandt hat.

17 So ihr solches wisset, selig seid ihr, so ihr's tut.

18 Nicht sage ich von euch allen; ich weiß, welche ich erwählt habe. Aber es muß die Schrift erfüllt werden: "Der mein Brot isset, der tritt mich mit Füßen."

19 Jetzt sage ich's euch, ehe denn es geschieht, auf daß, wenn es geschehen ist, ihr glaubt, daß ich es bin.