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Selected Verse: John 15:15 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 15:15 |
King James |
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Henceforth I call you not servants--that is, in the sense explained in the next words; for servants He still calls them (Joh 15:20), and they delight to call themselves so, in the sense of being "under law to Christ" (Co1 9:20).
the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth--knows nothing of his master's plans and reasons, but simply receives and executes his orders.
but . . . friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you--admitted you to free, unrestrained fellowship, keeping back nothing from you which I have received to communicate. (Compare Gen 18:17; Psa 25:14; Isa 50:4). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
I call you not servants - This had been the common title by which he addressed them Mat 10:24-25; Joh 12:26; Joh 13:13; but he had also before this, on one occasion, called them friends Luk 12:4, and on one occasion after this he called them servants, Joh 15:20. He here means that the ordinary title by which he would hence forth address them would be that of friends.
The servant knoweth not ... - He receives the command of his master without knowing the reason why this or that thing is ordered. It is one of the conditions of slavery not to be let into the counsels and plans of the master. It is the privilege of friendship to be made acquainted with the plans wishes, and wants of the friend. This instance of friendship Jesus had given them by making them acquainted with the reasons why he was about to leave them, and with his secret wishes in regard to them. As he had given their this proof of friendship, it was proper that he should not withhold from them the title of friends.
His lord - His Master.
I have called you friends - I have given you the name of friends. He does not mean that the usual appellation which he had given them had been than of friends, but that such was the title which he had now given them.
For all things ... - The reason why he called them friends was that he had now treated them as friends. He had opened to them his mind; made known his plans; acquainted them with the design of his coming, his death, his resurrection, and ascension; and, having thus given them the clearest proof of friendship, it was proper that he should give them the name.
That I have heard ... - Jesus frequently represents himself as commissioned or sent by God to accomplish an important work, and as being instructed by him in regard to the nature of that work. See the notes at Joh 5:30. By what he had heard of the Father, he doubtless refers to the design of God in his coming and his death. This he had made known to them. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
Henceforth
Progressive intimacy in John:
Servants, (Joh 13:13);
Friends (Joh 15:15);
Brethren, (Joh 20:17). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Henceforth - not (οὐκέτι)
Rev., better, no longer. No longer servants, as you were under the dispensation of the law. Compare Gal 4:7.
Servants (δούλους)
Strictly, bond-servants.
Knoweth not (οὐκ οἶδέ)
Has no instinctive perception. See on Joh 2:24.
You
The position of the pronoun in the Greek is emphatic: "You I have called friends." |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| All things - Which might be of service to you. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Henceforth I call you not servants - Which he at least indirectly had done, Joh 13:16; Mat 10:24, Mat 10:25; Luk 17:10.
I have called you friends - I have admitted you into a state of the most intimate fellowship with myself; and have made known unto you whatsoever I have heard from the Father, which, in your present circumstances, it was necessary for you to be instructed in. |
4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.