Bible Strands
John 15:14
You are My friends if you do what I command you.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus, in the Upper Room on the final evening before his crucifixion, speaking to the twelve (or the core group of disciples) within the "true vine" discourse (John 15:1–8).
The words — philoi (φίλοι) is the same word Jesus used in v. 13 for those for whom one lays down his life; it is not a casual term for acquaintance but the word for intimate, life-risking bond. Humeis (ὑμεῖς) is the emphatic "you yourselves," singling out this group rather than a generic audience.
The thread — Matthew 12:50 ties doing the Father's will to family membership; 1 John 5:3 defines love of God as keeping his commandments; James 2:23 shows Abraham's faith credited through his action.
Why it lands — The verse does not say obedience produces friendship; it says obedience is the test that reveals whether the friendship is real. A reader is left with a binary: the command is the boundary line, not a suggestion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Cross-references
- Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
- 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
- James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
- John 14:21 Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
- John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
- Luke 12:4 I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
- John 13:17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
- Isaiah 41:8 “But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—
- John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
- John 14:28 You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.