XXXVI. The Farewell Discourse
138. The Commandment to Love
35And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”They said, “Nothing.”
36He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. 31Now is the Son of Man glorified, and in him God is glorified. 33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; but, where I am going you cannot come. 36Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward.”
34“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another even as I have loved you.a 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”b
11“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants; but I have called you friends, and all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide. 17This I command you, to love one another.”c
(Lk. 22:35–36; Jn. 13:31, 33, 36, 34–35; 15:11–17)
a "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another even as I have loved you.”—The older commandments to "love one another” and to "love your neighbor as yourself” are raised to greater heights in this new commandment to love others even as Jesus loves us.
b “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”—The way of Jesus is the way of love. It is the rule of living within the kingdom. If we would be his disciples, we must love one another.
c “This I command you, to love one another”—This commandment to love is the greatest commandment in Jesus’ teachings. It is the only command that Jesus clearly emphasizes to his disciples. The true follower will make love a priority of life.
Love is the desire to do good to others.
Love identifies the will of God.
Jn. 13:31 “Now / When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now (RSV)
Jn. 13:33 me; but, where / me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where (RSV)
Jn. 13:36 Where / Jesus answered, 'Where (RSV)
Jn. 13:34 you. / you, that you also love one another. (RSV)
Jn. 15:15 I do not call / No longer do I call (RSV) • servants; / servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; • friends, and all / friends, for all (RSV) (180:0–1/1944–5)
