John 15:21

21 But they shall do to you all these things for my name, for they know not him that sent me.

John 15:21 Meaning and Commentary

John 15:21

But all these things will they do unto you
Christ here signifies, that all the hatred and persecutions raised against his people by the world, would not be on their own account, for any evil actions done by them; they would not suffer as thieves, murderers, and evildoers, but as Christians; or as he says,

for my name's sake:
because they were called by his name, and called upon his name; because they professed his name, and confessed him to be the Messiah and Redeemer; because they loved his name Jesus, a Saviour, believed in his name, and hoped in him for eternal life; and also preached him, and in his name salvation, and encouraged others to believe in him; and therefore they had no reason to be ashamed, but rather to rejoice; as they afterwards did, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name: besides, this malice and hatred of theirs arose from ignorance of the Father of Christ:

because they know not him that sent me;
they did not know that Jesus was the Christ, and sent of God; they did not acknowledge him to be so, or the Father to be the sender of him; and because Christ and his disciples asserted this, therefore they were the objects of their hatred.

John 15:21 In-Context

19 If ye had been of the world, the world should love that thing that was his; but for ye be not of the world, but I chose you from the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Have ye mind of my word, which I said to you [that I said to you], The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also; if they have kept my word, they shall keep yours also.
21 But they shall do to you all these things for my name, for they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come, and had not spoken to them, they should not have sin; but now they have none excusation of their sin [forsooth now they have not excusing of their sin].
23 He that hateth me, hateth also my Father.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.