LOVE'S OBEDIENCE

Freedom in our obedience flows out of the fullness of our love. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Obedience is the natural, but not obligatory, consequence of love. Love does not demand obedience, but obedience expresses love.

The verse is conditional. It is a third class condition sometimes called a "more probable future condition" (Dana & Mantey, p.290). The construction suggests an element of uncertainty expressed in the future tense of the apodosis - "you will keep my commands." The majority text uses an imperative (τηρησατε), but the better attested reading is a future indicative (τηρησετε) which also fits better with the third class condition and the future tense of "ask" (ερωτησω) in verse 16.

The stress of the apodosis is on "my" commands. The pronoun is emphatic (τας εμας). There is absolute authority bound up in this pronoun. Moses told the Israelites, "These are the things the Lord has commanded you" (Exodus 35:1). Now Jesus talks about "my commandments" recalling the Lord's commands in the Law of God. Yet, instead of making obedience a response to authority, Jesus teaches an obedience that flows from love. Here is no legalistic duty to obey but a free desire to obey with an element of uncertainty in the obedience because Jesus seeks the heart more than the act of obedience.

How then can we learn to love Jesus more? We can learn to love Jesus more as we study the words and the will of the one we love.  Jesus promises us help for our obedience as we learn His ways. Verse 16 is tied grammatically to verse 15.  The promised "helper" will be in us helping us as we obey out of a heart of love.

Intimacy with Jesus is the foundation for obedience to His will.