Quotes & Notes on:     John 13:34    John Wesley,  Notes On the New Testament (1755):  A new commandment-Not new in itself; but new in the school of Christ: for he had never before taught it them expressly. Likewise new, as to the degree of it, as I have loved you. Reginald Fuller's Preaching the Lectionary (1984):  To be posted.   William Baird, Interpreter's Commentary, 1971:  To be posted.   J. McNicol, The New Bible Commentary, 1954:  To be posted.   I.H. Marshall, The New Bible Commentary, 1970:  To be posted.   David Guzik, Study Guide: To be posted.   Chuck Smith, Study Guide: To be posted.   Catechism of the Catholic Church: To be posted.   J. Norval Geldenhuys, Bible Expositor, 1960: To be posted.   Abingdon Bible Commentary (1929): To be posted.   D.D. Whedon, Commentary on Luke, 1866: To be posted.   Joseph Parker, People's Bible, 1901: To be posted.   The Fourfold Gospel:  As to this new commandment, love had been commanded before (Le 19:18), but the Christian love here commanded is different from that which the Jew was bade to feel for the Jew, just as the affection of a loving family differs from the mere broad and kindly spirit of neighborliness. A love which had Christ's heart as the standard would of necessity be new, and would distinguish those who possessed it from all men. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: * A new. Ga 6:2; 1Jo 2:8-10; 3:14-18,23; 2Jo 1:5 * That ye love. Joh 15:12,13; 17:21; Le 19:18,34; Ps 16:3; 119:63; Ro 12:10 1Co 12:26; 13:4-7; Ga 5:6,13,14; 6:10; Eph 5:2; Php 2:1-5 Col 1:4; 3:12,13; 1Th 3:12; 4:9,10; 2Th 1:3; Heb 13:1; Jas 2:8 1Pe 1:22; 3:8,9; 2Pe 1:7; 1Jo 4:7-11; 5:1   Robertson's Word Pictures: New (kainên). First, in contrast with the old (archaios, palaios), the very adjective used in 1Jo 2:7) of the "commandment" (entolên) at once called old (palaia). They had had it a long time, but the practice of it was new. Jesus does not hesitate, like the Father, to give commandments (Joh 15:10,12). That ye love one another (hina agapâte allêlous). Non-final use of hina with present active subjunctive of agapaô, the object clause being in the accusative case in apposition with entolên. Note the present tense (linear action), "keep on loving." Even as (kathôs). The measure of our love for another is set by Christ's love for us.   William Burkitt's Notes: Our Saviour having mentioned his departure from his disciples in the former verse; I go away, and, whither I go ye cannot come: in this and the following verses, he gives them a strict charge, that in his absence they should love one another. This he calls a new commandment: not that it was new in regard of institution, but of restitution: not new in regard of the substance of it, for it was a branch of the law of nature, and a known precept of the Jewish religion; but he calls it a new commandment: 1. Because purged from the old corrupt glosses of the Pharisees, who had limited this duty of love, and confined it to their own countrymen; whereas Christ enlarges the object, and obliges his disciples to love all mankind, even their very enemies. 2. Because this duty of love was so greatly advanced and heightened by our Saviour, as to the measures and degrees of it, even to the laying down of our lives one for another. 3. It is called a new commandment, because urged from a new motive, and enforced by a new example. As I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Never was this duty so effectually taught, so mightily encouraged, so much urged and insisted upon, by any teacher, as our Saviour; and never was there such an example given of it as his own. 4. It is a new commandment, because with the rest it was never to wax old; but to be always fresh in the memory and practice of Christ's disciples to the end of the world.   Family Bible Notes: A new commandment; new as to its peculiar application to Christians, the clearness and power with which it was taught, and the motives with which it was enforced. One decisive evidence of love to Christ is love to his people. The manifestation of this, while it is among the brightest evidences of true religion, is also among the most powerful means of leading men to embrace it.   1599 Geneva Bible Notes: No comment on this verse.   People's New Testament Commentary: The commandment to love was not new [Le 19:18,34], but such love as Christ commanded was new.   Albert Barnes' Commentary:  A new commandment. This command he gave them as he was about to leave them, to be a badge of discipleship, by which they might be known as his friends and followers, and by which they might be distinguished from all others. It is called new, not because there was no command before which required men to love their fellow-men, for one great precept of the law was that they should love their neighbour as themselves (Le 19:18); but it was new because it had never before been made that by which any class or body of men had been known and distinguished. The Jew was known by his external rites, by his peculiarity of dress, &c.; the philosopher by some other mark of distinction; the military man by another, &c. In none of these cases had love for each other been the distinguishing and peculiar badge by which they were known. But in the case of Christians they were not to be known by distinctions of wealth, or learning, or fame; they were not to aspire to earthly honours; they were not to adopt any peculiar style of dress or badge, but they were to be distinguished by tender and constant attachment to each other. This was to surmount all distinction of country, of colour, of rank, of office, of sect. Here they were to feel that they were on a level, that they had common wants, were redeemed by the same sacred blood, and were going to the same heaven. They were to befriend each other in trials; be careful of each other's feelings and reputation; deny themselves to promote each other's welfare. See 1Jo 3:23; 1Th 4:9; 1Pe 1:22; 2Th 1:3; Ga 6:2; 2Pe 1:7. In all these places the command of Jesus is repeated or referred to, and it shows that the first disciples considered this indeed as the peculiar law of Christ. This command or law was, moreover, new in regard to the extent to which this love was to be carried; for he immediately adds, "As I have loved you, that ye also love one another." His love for them was strong, continued, unremitting, and he was now about to show his love for them in death. Joh 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." So in 1Jo 3:16 it is said that "we ought also to lay down our lives for the brethren." This was a new expression of love; and it showed the strength of attachment which we ought to have for Christians, and how ready we should be to endure hardships, to encounter dangers, and to practise self-denial, to benefit those for whom the Son of God laid down his life. {x} "new commandment" Le 19:18; Joh 15:12,17; Eph 5:2; 1Th 4:9 Jas 2:8; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 2:7; 3:11; 4:20,21   Jamieson-Faussett Brown:  This was the new feature of it. Christ's love to His people in giving His life a ransom for them was altogether new, and consequently as a Model and Standard for theirs to one another. It is not, however, something transcending the great moral law, which is "the old commandment" (1Jo 2:7, and see on JFB for Mr 12:28), but that law in a new and peculiar form. Hence it is said to be both new and old (1Jo 2:7,8).   Spurgeon Devotional Commentary: No comment on this verse.   Adam Clarke's Commentary:  In what sense are we to understand that this was a new commandment? Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, was a positive precept of the law, Le 19:18, and it is the very same that Christ repeats here; how then was it new? Our Lord answers this question, Even AS I have loved you. Now Christ more than fulfilled the Mosaic precept; he not only loved his neighbour AS himself, but he loved him MORE than himself, for he laid down his life for men. In this he calls upon the disciples to imitate him; to be ready on all occasions to lay down their lives for each other. This was, strictly, a new commandment: no system of morality ever prescribed any thing so pure and disinterested as this. Our blessed Lord has outdone all the moral systems in the universe in two words: 1. Love your enemies; 2. Lay down your lives for each other.   Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: No comment on this verse.

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