If
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.” [John 14:15 Amplified Bible]
That’s what Jesus said. It is a verse of scripture quoted by many, but it is not really understood by those that have memorized that scripture and can quote it. Many think: “I must obey the Ten Commandments, and in doing so, that means I love Jesus.” Well, Beloved, you know if you are reading this, you are going to be taught on a deeper level. Allow our Heavenly Father to demonstrate, through scripture, why there is a much deeper understanding of that scripture to be had.
Jesus said in John 14:15 as we just read, that if you love me, you will keep My commandments. Most place the emphasis on keeping His commandments - and yes, of course, we will do well to make every effort to keep His commandments, or at the very least to keep His commandments and to do so without excuse. But there is much more.
The emphasis in John 14:15 should moreso be on the words love and will. Here is the reason why: the word love in John 14:15 is the Greek word Agapaō. Agapaō means to be fond of, to love dearly and to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing. It is a love that is without ifs.
So let’s understand the word love from the Biblical standpoint. There are two main types of love in the Bible we will look at in this message:
Agapaō: this is an unconditional, unselfish love that thinks only of others and not of one’s self. In fact, Agapaō is love that gives. It motivates us to give of ourselves unselfishly. The Biblical example of Agape love is found in John 3:16 -For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. The Lord Agapaō [loved - affectionately fond of us and loves us dearly] us so much that He did not want us to die and go to Sheol [Hell]. So He gave of Himself, His Son, to endure hardness and shame, and be crucified to die for us so that we could live abundantly on earth, and most importantly have eternal life and not go to Sheol if we choose. Heaven and Hell, are real and are very much a choice. STUDY THE SCRIPTURES PEOPLE!
Phileō: Is a friendship love. Its Greek translation means to approve of, to like, befriend. Its a love with boundaries and limits, but nevertheless, still it is love. You need to see this in the scriptures, to help you understand Phileō love as it compares to agape love: John 21:15-17 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs ” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. So let’s look at those scriptures again, but with its Greek translations in the appropriate place of the word love: John 21:15-17 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you agapaō [love Me to the point of affectionately fond of Me and love Me dearly] me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know (Greek word eidō which means ascertain or perceive) that I phileō [approve of you in a friend like way] you.” Jesus said, “Feed Feed (greek word boskō which means to feed by portraying the duty of a Christian teacher to promote in every way the spiritual welfare of the members of the church) my lambs (arnion which means a little lamb, a lamb used of Christ, innocently suffering and dying to expiate the sins of men).” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you agapaō [love Me to the point of being affectionately fond of Me and love Me dearly] me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I phileo [approve of you in a friend like way] you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep [probaton - any four footed, tame animal accustomed to graze, small cattle (opp. to large cattle, horses, etc.), most commonly a sheep or a goat, or literally a sheep ].” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you phileō [approve of Me in a friend like way] me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you phileō me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I phileō[approve of you in a friend like way] you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep[probaton - any four footed, tame animal accustomed to graze, small cattle (opp. to large cattle, horses, etc.), most commonly a sheep or a goat, or literally a sheep ]
Did you catch the dynamic in the Greek translation? Jesus began with asking Simon Peter, does he agapaō [love Me dearly and affectionately without conditions] Him to which Simon Peter responded yes Lord, I phileō [approve of you in a friendly way]. Being that they were dialoging about their relationship on different levels, Jesus asked Simon Peter again, does he agapaō [love Him dearly and affectionately without conditions] enough to feed His Sheep, and once again Simon Peter responded with, he phileō [approve of you in a friendly way] Jesus. This in turn led to Jesus asking Simon Peter a third time, but coming down to Simon Peter’s level of love and commitment to feeding His Sheep. It is at this point that Simon Peter realizes that Jesus reduced His level of expectation of Simon Peter from feeding His Lambs (the Church-the Body of Christ) to feeding His literal animal sheep by using Simon Peter’s term phileō [approve of you in a friendly way] and Simon Peter was grieved, which in the Greek translates to the Word lypeō which means to affect with sadness, cause grief, to throw into sorrow because it was at that point that Simon Peter had the revelation that his commitment towards feeding Jesus’ sheep was not with his whole heart and he most assuredly was NOT committed to the High Calling of Christ Jesus (Phillipians 4:13).
So a bit of “back” story. The verses preceding John 21:15-17 begin at verse one of Chapter 21. Jesus had already been crucified. Therefore, Chapter 21 is one of the several times Jesus revealed Himself after His crucifixion. Five of His disciples (including Simon Peter) were out to sea fishing for their meal. They had been fishing all night and caught nothing. And come morning, as they returned back to land, Jesus was standing on the shore and asked them (already knowing the answer) did they have any food and they replied no. Then Jesus said to them to pitch their nets again, but this time on the right side of the boat and they will catch some fish. In doing so, they caught so much fish that their catch exceeded the weight capacity of both their net and their boat. This made them unable to draw the net up because it was too heavy. In verse 12 after one of the disciples, whom the scriptures say that Jesus agapaō’ loved, said to Simon Peter that the man standing on shore is The Lord Jesus. Simon Peter was so overwhelmed with joy that it was his Lord Jesus, he put on his outer garment and jumped out of the boat, and swam to shore! He was happy! The other four came in the little boat dragging the net. Jesus had already had the fire of coals going there with fish and bread laying on the fire. Jesus took the bread and gave it to them, as well as gave them some fish. (Just a side note: that was amusing is that in verse 12 after all of this conversation they were having with the Lord Jesus they knew it was Him, but they were afraid to ask Him, “Who are you"?” Perhaps that tickled you as much as it did me! Just imagine you see a Jesus after you watched His crucifixion, death, and burial, and now you are having a whole conversation and breakfast with what you know to be a “ghost”!) Anyhow, after they ate breakfast, is where verse 15 picks up and Jesus starts the conversation with Simon Peter, asking him does he love Jesus more than these matters of fishing and eating.
You see beloved, when Biblical love in the original Greek translations, is understood, then you understand that love is not a feeling, that feeling love or romantic (erotic) love which is called āhaḇ in the original Hebrew translation and can be found in the Song of Solomon chapter 1. That is not the love of this message.
It cannot be said enough that if we Agapaō love Him we will keep His commandments. Simply stated: we will do God’s will, God’s way. So many choose the path that leads to destruction, and now are spending their days outside the will of God because they cannot focus on callings and their purpose, they are spending all their time praying about the choices and decisions that were their will and not His will, nor His way. Henceforth, you cannot keep His commandments, because like Simon Peter you love “these things” more than you love Him and His Sheep. After all, your pride has to stand down when keeping His commandments, and some just cannot do anything that does not involve they themselves in the spotlight of their own will.
Biblical love is a choice. An act of our will. And to fulfill our callings and our purpose, it is important to choose the will of God and the Agapaō love of God because it is then, and only then, can we truly say we love Him and therefore are willing to keep His commandments.
Stay Blessed in His Everlasting Love,
Apostle & Prophetess Wendy Connor
© Copyright 2022 Wendy Connor
