John 13:34 Commentary and Bible Study

So now I say to you who must stay behind, ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another.’ ‘You are going to be a new order, a new community.’ First of all this is spoken to the apostles. ‘You must not be anything like the Jewish leaders who hate each other and are rivals of each other and form parties that oppose each other, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and so on, and divide themselves into ranks. You are a new community.’ It is his first introduction to them of the New Testament church. This will be a great theme in these private instructions he is going to give.‘That ye love one another; [sacrificially] as I have loved you,’ with great forbearance and kindness. Love each other in that way. ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples.’ This is what will authenticate you in the eyes of seekers, unbelievers, that you are a close family who love me and love one another, and this is one of the distinguishing marks of every true church. If we are a true church, the people who know us and observe us, will know we are a place of family affection and love and kinship. You are going to be a new community.If we understand correctly how the Gospels work, it is probably at this point of the narrative that the Lord’s Supper, which John passes over, begins. Then after that the more detailed instruction.