New Testament Commentary - John 15

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 15 Jesus is the vine; his disciples are the branches—He discourses on perfect law of love—His servants have been chosen and ordained by him—World hates and fights true religion—Promise of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth.
1 I AM the true ^avine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every ^abranch in me that beareth not ^bfruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he ^cpurgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 ^aAbide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself^a, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the ^avine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without ^bme ye can do nothing.	4^a the branch cannot bear fruit of itself All power, glory and light cometh from God. Man of his own self is nothing and can do nothing except in that he is connected to God. We are Christ's, and only in, of and through him is there power to abide in God. There is none other, not other way, no other truth, not other life unto eternal life and immortality. Man must reconcile himself unto Christ, else he is lost and whithereth away and as to the things of God.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
6 If a man ^aabide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye ^aabide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ^bask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father ^aglorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
9 As the Father hath ^aloved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye ^akeep my commandments, ye shall abide in my ^blove; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye ^alove one another, as I have ^bloved you. 13 Greater ^alove hath no man than this, that a man lay down his ^blife for his ^cfriends. 14 Ye are my ^afriends, if ye do whatsoever I ^bcommand you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you ^afriends; for all things that I have ^bheard of my Father I have made ^cknown unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have ^achosen you, and ^bordained you, that ye should go and bring forth ^cfruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my ^dname, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world ^ahate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the ^aworld, the world would ^blove his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The ^aservant is not greater than his lord. If they have ^bpersecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had ^asin: but now they have no ^bcloke for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had ^asin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They ^ahated me without a cause.
26 But when the ^aComforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall ^btestify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear ^awitness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.