Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 14:21
Verse 21. He it is that loveth me] See on ver. 15. And will manifest myself to him.] All my faithful disciples shall see me after my resurrection; and I will manifest my power and goodness to all those who believe in and obey me, even to the end of the world.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them , etc.] He that has not merely the external revelation of them in the Bible; but has them written on his heart, by the finger of the Spirit of God, and keeps them under the influence of grace and strength received from him: he it is that loveth me : others may talk of loving Christ, but this is the man that truly does love him; for his observance of Christs commands is a proof and evidence that he loves him not in word only, but in deed and in truth: and to encourage souls to love and obedience, Christ adds, he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father ; not that love to is the cause, condition, or motive of the Fathers love to his people; nor does his love to them begin when they begin to love Christ; but this expression denotes some further and greater manifestation of the Fathers love to such persons, and shows how grateful to the Father are love and obedience to the Son: and I will love him ; which must be understood in the same manner; Christ does not begin to love his people when they begin to love, and obey him; their love and obedience to him, spring from his love to them; which love of his towards them was from everlasting: but this phrase signs a clearer discovery of his love to them, which passeth knowledge; and some fresh mark and token of his affection for them; and which is explained in the next clause: and will manifest myself to him ; not in a visible way, or in a corporeal form, as he did to his disciples after his resurrection; but in a spiritual manner, as when he makes himself known to his people in ordinances, and favours them with communion with him, and they see his beauty, his fulness, his grace and righteousness, his power, and his glory.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 18-24 - Christ promises that he would continue his care of his disciples. will not leave you orphans, or fatherless, for though I leave you, ye I leave you this comfort, I will come to you. I will come speedily to you at my resurrection. I will come daily to you in my Spirit; in the tokens of his love, and visits of his grace. I will come certainly a the end of time. Those only that see Christ with an eye of faith, shal see him for ever: the world sees him no more till his second coming but his disciples have communion with him in his absence. Thes mysteries will be fully known in heaven. It is a further act of grace that they should know it, and have the comfort of it. Having Christ' commands, we must keep them. And having them in our heads, we must kee them in our hearts and lives. The surest evidence of our love to Chris is, obedience to the laws of Christ. There are spiritual tokens of Christ and his love given to all believers. Where sincere love to Christ is in the heart, there will be obedience. Love will be commanding, constraining principle; and where love is, duty follow from a principle of gratitude. God will not only love obedien believers, but he will take pleasure in loving them, will rest in love to them. He will be with them as his home. These privileges ar confined to those whose faith worketh by love, and whose love to Jesu leads them to keep his commandments. Such are partakers of the Holy Spirit's new-creating grace.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM εχων 2192 5723 V-PAP-NSM τας 3588 T-APF εντολας 1785 N-APF μου 3450 P-1GS και 2532 CONJ τηρων 5083 5723 V-PAP-NSM αυτας 846 P-APF εκεινος 1565 D-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM αγαπων 25 5723 V-PAP-NSM με 3165 P-1AS ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ αγαπων 25 5723 V-PAP-NSM με 3165 P-1AS αγαπηθησεται 25 5701 V-FPI-3S υπο 5259 PREP του 3588 T-GSM πατρος 3962 N-GSM μου 3450 P-1GS και 2532 CONJ εγω 1473 P-1NS αγαπησω 25 5692 V-FAI-1S αυτον 846 P-ASM και 2532 CONJ εμφανισω 1718 5692 V-FAI-1S αυτω 846 P-DSM εμαυτον 1683 F-1ASM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
21. Hath. "Who has in memory and keeps in life" (Augustine).Will manifest (emfanisw). Properly, of manifestation to the sight, as distinguished from dhlow, to make evident to the mind (1 Corinthians iii. 13; Col. i. 8, etc.). A clear, conspicuous manifestation is indicated. Compare ye see me (ver. 19). "It conveys more than the disclosing of an undiscovered presence (apokaluptw), or the manifesting of a hidden one (fanerow)" (Westcott).
