Yochanan 15:17

17 I am giving you these mitzvot, that you have ahavah (agape) one for the other.

Yochanan 15:17 Meaning and Commentary

John 15:17

These things I command you
The doctrines which Christ spake, as one having authority, concerning the vine and branches; his love to his disciples, in laying down his life for them, and in accounting and using them as friends, and not servants; in choosing, ordaining, and sending them forth, for the ends above mentioned; these were delivered by him with this view, to promote brotherly love among them: that ye love one another; this lay much upon his heart, he often mentions it; this is the third time it is expressed by him, in these his last discourses; and indeed, since he had declared such strong love and affection for them, it was but right and proper they should love one another; nor does anything more tend to increase mutual love among the saints, than the consideration of their common interest in the unchangeable love of their Lord.

Yochanan 15:17 In-Context

15 No longer do I call you avadim, because the eved does not have da’as of what his Adon is doing. But you I have called chaverim, because all things which I heard from HaAv of me, of all these things I gave you da’as. [SHEMOT 33:11]

16 It was not that you chose me, but I chose you, and have given you s’michah that you go and bear p’ri and the p’ri of you remain, that whatever you ask HaAv b’Shem of me (Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach), HaAv may give it to you.

17 I am giving you these mitzvot, that you have ahavah (agape) one for the other.

18 If the Olam Hazeh has sin’as chinom (hatred without cause) for you, [YESHAYAH 66:5] be aware it has had sin’as chinom for me before you.

19 If you were of the Olam Hazeh, the Olam Hazeh would have had ahavah for its own. But because from the Olam Hazeh you are not, but I chose you out of the Olam Hazeh, therefore the Olam Hazeh has sin’as chinom for you [1Yn 4:5; Yn 17:14].