John 15:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They do not leave it to the ignorant themselves to call them teachers first. Rather, they anticipate even the one who does not yet desire to learn anything necessary. Since in the words of our Savior there is also, "that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain," we must examine what these words mean. What, then, should be understood, and in what sense is it said that the fruit of the disciples remains? I think, since the fruit is called the disciples' fruit, that the Savior calls the fruit that comes through evangelical teaching abiding fruit, not the fruit that comes through righteousness according to the law. For that righteousness grew old, because it could accomplish nothing, since the law made nothing perfect, according to Paul's word (Heb 7:19). In its place a new fruit blossomed and sprang up, making the old ancient and eclipsing what came before. It brought in fruit that is truly abiding and remaining. Therefore the divine Paul says to us that he gladly and willingly renounced righteousness under the law in order to gain Christ. This means righteousness through faith in Him and evangelical fruit-bearing, for such fruit remains and will be permanent. It can make the human soul most perfect in piety. For no other new teaching can be added to the evangelical preaching that would make the former old, as undoubtedly happened with the Mosaic law. Rather, the Savior's Word must stand forever, as He Himself once said: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away" (Mt 24:35).

Then, as though taking their beginning in it and being bound to it, he listed the other fruits: “joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, mercy, faith, meekness, self-control” (Gal 5:22).

For who can truly rejoice if he does not love the good, the source of every joy?

Who can have true peace if he does not have it with the one whom he truly loves?

Who can endure long while remaining in goodness, if there is no fervent love?

Who is good if he does not love the one whom he helps?

Who is merciful if love does not make him so?

Who can be sound in faith if it is not the faith that works through love?

Whose meekness is profitable if it is not governed by love?

And who will abstain from what is shameful if he does not love what elevates?

Accordingly, the good Teacher often presents love as the one thing that must be commanded.

Without love, every good is vain; and love cannot be possessed without the other virtues, which make a man truly good.

In the Gospel passage that preceded this, the Lord said: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.”

As you remember, we have already discussed these words, as far as the Lord allowed us.

But here, in the following passage which you have just heard, He says: “These things I command you, that you love one another.”

Through this we must understand what our fruit is, of which He said: “I chose you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide.”

And He added this: “so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.”

Certainly He will give us then, if we love one another, when He Himself grants us this love.

He loved us when we had no fruit, because we did not choose Him.

He appointed us so that we might bear fruit, that is, love one another.

We cannot have this fruit without Him, just as the branches can do nothing without the vine.

Therefore love is our fruit, which the Apostle derives from “a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5).

Through it we love one another. Through it we love God.

Indeed, we cannot love one another with pure love unless we have loved God.

For each person loves his neighbor as himself only if he loves God.

If he does not love God, he does not love himself either.

“For on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 22:40).

This is our fruit.

And so, in commanding us, He spoke of the fruit: “These things I command you, that you love one another.”

Therefore the Apostle Paul also, wishing to tell us of the fruit of the Spirit and to set it against the works of the flesh, placed this first: “The fruit of the Spirit is love” (Gal 5:22).

Then he listed the rest as though they proceed from this head and are born from it: “joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, mercy, faith, meekness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).

For who can rejoice sincerely if he does not love the good because of which he rejoices?

With whom can he have true peace, if not with the one whom he loves completely?

Who can be longsuffering, persevering in good, if he does not burn with love?

Who can be marked by goodness if he does not love the one to whom he gives help?

Who can be merciful if he does not become merciful through love?

Who can possess saving faith if he does not possess the faith that works through love?

Who is marked by beneficial meekness if he is not guided by love?

Who can abstain from what is destructive if he does not love what is worthy?

Thus the good Teacher rightly speaks so often about love, as though only love had to be commanded.

For without it the other good things cannot exist; and at the same time love cannot be possessed without the other good things, through which a man becomes good.

In His death and the ascension into heaven that followed, His holiness was fully revealed. Finally, He will prove to the world that its prince is judged, weakened, and cast down from his throne. In place of his kingdom the Kingdom of God will be established. In this lies the whole essence of Christianity: the consciousness of sin, the recognition of the Lord Christ as Redeemer from sin, and triumph over the enemy, the source of all evil.

The comfort and strengthening of Christ's followers in this must be the thought that this hatred and enmity of the world is really directed against Christ and His heavenly Father. Therefore, if they suffer from this enmity and hatred, these will be sufferings for Christ and God. For these sufferings there will be a great reward, and for those who are hostile there will be punishment.

If we are His followers, let us not dishonor our calling by vexation, anger, abuse, or hatred toward our neighbors. If we are His followers, then our peace, health, possessions, pleasure, and strength must be dedicated to the service of our neighbors. Heavenly love, breathe into us a love worthy of our calling. Amen.

The world expresses the aggregate of purely earthly and material aspirations, with forgetfulness of spiritual principles and the laws of God inscribed even in the hearts of Gentiles, as the holy Apostle Paul indicated (Rom 2:14-15). Even among the Gentiles there were people "who by nature do the things of the law" and show "the work of the law written in their hearts." And among the Jews there were people "waiting for the Kingdom of God." All these people were not of the world. And they entered the Church of Christ at the voice of the Lord's preachers. But the world of which the Lord speaks is that unrepentant world which wants and seeks only pleasures, advantages, and glory on earth. It looks with hatred upon those who speak to it of heaven.