John 14:21-25
 
John 14:21 (KJB)
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
 
Keepeth - Obey, Pay attention to, observe
 
Here is a great verse of qualification. Jesus states that those who have or possess His commandments, which would be only true believers, and while possessing those commandments are obedient to them, which continues to speak only of true believers, are showing that the love the Lord. Their obedience to the Lord’s commandments is the evidence of their love for Christ and their true salvation. Then Jesus goes on to state that those who do this and show love toward the Lord Jesus, will be loved by the Father resulting in the believer being loved by the Lord Jesus Christ and He will make Himself manifest to these true believers. Now Jesus will not manifest Himself physically because He is in Heaven but He will reveal Himself spiritually. These true believers will receive the promise that they will “do greater works” by means of having the power of Christ in their lives. We had previously seen that the commandments are not the ones in the Mosaic law but these commandments are based in love for others which is manifested by deeds and not just words or ritual. It is also a sacrificial love which true Christians manifest.
 
John 14:22 (KJB)
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
 
(Mat 10:3 KJV) Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; The Judas in question here is Lebbaeus who we know better as “Jude,” the one who wrote the small Epistle bearing his name. This is the only remark which Judas made which is recorded in the Bible. He was obviously still under the belief that Jesus was going to establish Himself as the King of Israel and throw off the yoke of Rome and what had confused Judas was why the Lord would only manifest Himself to the disciples and not the world? This verse also gives the teaching which confirms John 13:1. (John 13:1 KJV) Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Since Jesus loved His own to the end, He will also manifest Himself only to His children. He did not come to die for the whole world but He came only to die for His Elect and it is to those who will be given the love and the promises.
 
John 14:23 (KJB)
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
 
Jesus answered the question of Judas indirectly by repeating what He said in verse 21 but taking the meaning a little bit further. The true Christian will love the Lord and that love will provoke him unto obedience of the commandments the Lord gave. Now Jesus goes a little further in explanation by stating that the Father will come unto that Christian. (James 4:8 KJV) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Do you see the principle in the first part of James 4:8? If we draw nigh to God which can only be done through the Lord Jesus Christ, and obey those commandments, then we draw nigh to God in obedience and God reciprocates by drawing nigh or closer to us. Then Jesus says that they will make their abode or dwelling place with them. This is done through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer upon salvation. (2 Cor 6:16 KJV) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16 confirms that God indwells the believer.
 
John 14:24 (KJB)
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
 
Here Jesus is making a statement which concerns those who do not believe Him, which are the unbelievers. Those in unbelief are not only rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ but are rejecting God the Father because the Lord Jesus states that the words which He is preaching are the words of the Father, so they are rejecting the entire trinity. Those who were contemporary with Jesus while He was on earth and rejected His teaching, were rejecting the Father while they thought all along that they were in obedience to God. Their reluctance to do a true search of the Hebrew Scriptures kept them in spiritual darkness.
 
John 14:25 (KJB)
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
 
Jesus taught them many truths while He was still present with them on earth. The remainder of things He wants them to know will be reserved until they receive the Holy Spirit who will guide them into understanding the teachings. They were only able to understand to a certain point. As Martin Luther said, “I can only get it to your ears and God has to take it the rest of the way.” He was speaking of it penetrating the heart. Jesus taught and much was misunderstood because without divine guidance, biblical interpretation would be incomplete or erroneous.

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