Commentaries:
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John 15:9-14
Having love does not nullify God's law. John, an apostle and close friend of Jesus Christ, emphasized love. However, not once did he say that love nullifies or supersedes the Ten Commandments. Indeed, by keeping the commandments, the love of God is perfected in us (I John 2:5). The Ten Commandments constitute a spiritual law that is inexorable and eternal, producing faith and happiness and righteous character that pleases God.
Martin G. Collins
The Ten Commandments
John 15:12
In John 13:34 and 15:12, Jesus gives us a new commandment, to love one another as He has loved us. The command that God's people love one another was, of course, not new (see Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5). As an outworking of love for God, loving others is at the heart of God's law and expresses the last six of the Ten Commandments. So why does the Lord call this "a new commandment"?
"New" is the Greek kainos, which often denotes what is qualitatively new as compared to what has existed until now. That is, which is better: what is old or what is young or recent? Kainos describes what is new in the sense of "unused" Faithor "fresh." So, while the idea of loving others was not new in the sense of "recent," it was new in the sense that no one had fully manifested God's love as had the Savior in such a sacrificial way—such love was unused.
In contrast to the practices of the self-righteous Pharisees, Jesus had come to fulfill the law and demonstrate its true meaning in both love to God and in love for others. The new commandment to love one another, then, is based on His example: "as I have loved you." The command is new because it is a special love for other believers based on the sacrificial example of Christ's love.
When tribulation comes upon us, we must realize that God will be testing our faith and love toward Him and each other. With faith in God—without which it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6)—and with our hearts filled with His perfect love, we are equipped with the two elements we need to overcome the destructive fear and unbelief that cause troubled hearts.
Scripture exhorts us to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and, by using it, to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit—the godly virtues listed in Galatians 5:22-23. How do we know if we are "full of love" or "full of faith," for example? Consider a water-saturated sponge. If we put even slight pressure on the sponge, water runs out. We immediately know what fills the sponge.
The same is true with us. We can tell what fills us on the inside by what comes out under pressure. We need to ask ourselves, "Do our faith and love come out when under trial, or is it something else?" Our hearts will continue to be troubled until we can overcome our fear and unbelief with godly faith and love.
Clyde Finklea
Overcoming Troubled Hearts (Part Two)Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing John 15:12:
Numbers 18:8-11
Matthew 13:3-9
Matthew 24:12-13
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Ephesians 2:14-22
2 Timothy 3:1-2
Hebrews 10:24
1 John 4:7-8
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What Does John 15:12 Mean?
Loving one another is not new in the sense of recent, since God's people were always commanded to love (Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5). Rather, this commandment is new in the sense of the Greek kainos, meaning qualitatively fresh and unused, because no one had manifested God's love as sacrificially as the Savior. This special love for fellow believers is based on Christ's example. Love does not nullify the Ten Commandments; by keeping them, God's love is perfected in us (I John 2:5). Jesus lived by laying down His life for His friends. A good relationship with God requires loving our brother, since sins are committed against others. Under trial, faith and love must come out to overcome fear and unbelief.