John 13:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

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

NASB: I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

CSB: "I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.

NLT: So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

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

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

There is some confusion over Jesus' reference to this commandment as "new." Earlier in His ministry, Jesus made it explicitly clear that love for others was a cornerstone of obedience to God (Matthew 22:36–40). The general instruction to love, then, is not being stated as if it's the first time it's being mentioned. The "newness" Jesus refers to here is in the sense of something refreshed, re-emphasized, or highlighted. The Greek term Jesus uses here, kainēn, leans heavily toward this version of "new."

This re-issued commandment is being given in the context of Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet (John 13:2–5). Jesus explained that if the Master acts as a humble servant, so too should those who follow Him (John 13:12–17). Here, Jesus doubles down on that idea by setting His own love as the standard to which all believers should aspire. In the next verse, Jesus will further explain the importance of acting in Christian love. In no uncertain terms, love—especially between fellow believers—is meant to be the primary and most powerful sign of one's Christian faith (John 13:35; 1 John 3:14).

John 13:31–35 contains one of the most powerful commands given to Christians: that love for others is the defining sign of faith for ''all people,'' marking the life of a true believer. Jesus frames this as a new commandment, using His own example as the standard. In giving this charge, Jesus once again predicts His impending death and departure from earth.

Jesus meets with a smaller group, possibly only the twelve disciples, in a private setting. Before eating a meal, Jesus performs the work of a lowly servant, washing the feet of the disciples. He explains that this is an object lesson. Their Lord is willing to serve in humility, so they are obligated to do the same. Jesus also predicts His impending betrayal, subtly telling Judas to leave and complete His conspiracy. The disciples don't realize what's happened, however. Peter foolishly brags about his loyalty. Jesus responds with a cutting prediction: Peter will deny his relationship to Christ three times in the next few hours.

The first twelve chapters of the gospel of John describe the public ministry of Jesus. Starting in chapter 13, most of what John describes are the last private moments Jesus enjoys prior to His crucifixion. This begins with Jesus washing the disciples' feet, establishing both an example and a command for humble service. Jesus also predicts His impending betrayal and Peter's cowardly denials. Following chapters contain Jesus' last instructions to the disciples, including a rich collection of truths which are central to the Christian faith.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.