Giovanni 13:17

17 Se sapete queste cose, siete beati se le fate.

Giovanni 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.

Giovanni 13:17 In-Context

15 Poiché io v’ho dato un esempio, affinché anche voi facciate come v’ho fatto io.
16 In verità, in verità vi dico che il servitore non è maggiore del suo signore, né il messo è maggiore di colui che l’ha mandato.
17 Se sapete queste cose, siete beati se le fate.
18 Io non parlo di voi tutti; io so quelli che ho scelti; ma, perché sia adempita la Scrittura, colui che mangia il mio pane, ha levato contro di me il suo calcagno.
19 Fin da ora ve lo dico, prima che accada; affinché, quando sia accaduto, voi crediate che sono io (il Cristo).
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