Daily Bible Verse - 9/29/2007 - John 13:34

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 13:34

Commentary
The command to love was new because Jesus gave it a new standard. Moses said, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19:18). Jesus said the new standard was as I have loved you. Jesus gave His disciples the example of love that they were to follow (vv. 1-17).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jn 13:34). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Did you know?

The warm word agape is the characteristic term of Christianity. This word for love is used several different ways in the Bible.

1. Agape love indicates the nature of the love of God toward His beloved Son (John 17:26), toward the human race generally (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8), and toward those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:21).

2. Agape love conveys God's will to His children about their attitude toward one another. Love for one another was a proof to the world of true discipleship (John 13:34-35).

3. Agape love also expresses the essential nature of God (1 John 4:8). Love can be known only from the actions it prompts, as seen in God's love in the gift of His Son (1 John 4:9-10). Love found its perfect expression in the Lord Jesus. Christian love is the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus in the believer (Gal. 5:22).

Hayford, J. W., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Hayford's Bible handbook. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.