John 15:17 (GNV)

Passage

These things commaund I you, that ye loue one another.

Nearby Context

John 15:15 Henceforth call I you not seruants: for the seruant knoweth not what his master doeth: but I haue called you friends: for all things that I haue heard of my Father, haue I made knowen to you.

John 15:16 Ye haue not chosen me, but I haue chosen you, and ordeined you, that ye goe and bring foorth fruite, and that your fruite remaine, that whatsoeuer ye shall aske of the Father in my Name, he may giue it you.

John 15:17 These things commaund I you, that ye loue one another.

John 15:18 If the worlde hate you, ye knowe that it hated me before you.

John 15:19 If ye were of the worlde, the world woulde loue his owne: but because ye are not of ye world, but I haue chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "things", "commaund", "loue", and "another". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "things" and "commaund", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "Ye haue not chosen me but I..." into verse 18's "If the worlde hate you ye knowe...", so "things" and "commaund" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "things" and "commaund" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.