John 13:16

Joh 13:16-20. Verily, the servant is not greater than his lord — And therefore ought not to think much either of doing or suffering the same things. If ye know these things — Therefore, knowing your duty in this particular, ye are happy if you practise it. I speak not of you all — When I call you happy; nor do I expect that all of you will hearken to me; I know whom I have chosen — I know there is one among you whom no instruction will profit, and that I should have called such a one to the apostleship need not surprise any of you, for I was well acquainted with the dispositions of each of you when I made choice of you, and did not make choice of a traitor to be my apostle through ignorance of his character; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled — Particularly Psa 41:9; He that eateth bread with me — And has been nourished by my care and favour; hath lifted up his heel against me — Like an ungrateful brute, that kicks at the kind master who feeds him. Such treatment David met with from those whom he trusted, and such I know that I am to expect. Now I tell you before it come — I give you this intimation before I am betrayed; that when it is come to pass — That when what I thus foretel is accomplished, you may be so far from doubting of the truth of my mission on that account, that, on the contrary, you may more firmly believe that I am he — That I told you I was, even the true Messiah. Verily, he that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth me — I put my own honour upon you, my ambassadors; and assure you that he who receives in faith, love, and obedience, the doctrine of you my apostles, or of any other messengers whom I send to preach the word of eternal life, receives mine, and he who receives mine, receives that of him who sent me. Whatsoever therefore I shall suffer, let not your zeal to carry on my cause be lessened, but steadfastly persevere in your adherence to it, with a firm persuasion that I will support you in it; for in this view I look upon your interest as my own. See on Mat 10:40; Luk 10:16.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13:16 slaves are not greater than their master: This proverb was popular and appears in many places (see also 15:20; Matt 10:24; Luke 6:40). Here, Jesus meant that the sacrifice modeled by the master should be seen in the life of the servant.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Joh 13:16. Ἀμὴν, ἀμήν, verily, verily) The force of this affirmation belongs to Joh 13:17, “If ye know these things, happy are ye, if ye do them.”—μείζων, greater) Nor ought he to refuse to do the same things, and submit to the same things.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Joh_13:16-17. Truly you, the lesser (ἀπόστολος: one sent), may not dispense with the performance of that which I, the greater, have here performed. Comp. Joh_15:20; Mat_10:24; Luk_6:40.

ταῦτα] That which I have set forth to you in accordance with the above (Joh_13:13-16) by my ὑπόδειγμα, by means of the feet-washing, and have made an obligation.

εἰ expresses the general, and ἐάν the particular, additional condition. Comp. on the twofold protasis, Stallbaum, ad Plat. Phaed. p. 67 E, Apol. p. 20 C; Klotz, ad Devar. p. 512; Ellendt, Lex. Soph. I. p. 493. The εἰ makes a definite supposition (οἴδατε δὲ αὐτὰ παρʼ ἐμοῦ μαθόντες, Euth. Zigabenus); ἐάν is in case you, etc. The knowing is objectively granted, the doing subjectively conditioned.

μακαρ.] said in reference to the happiness of the present and future Messianic ζωή. Comp. on Joh_19:29.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Joh 13:16 . And as confirmatory of this example and in rebuke of their pride, He adds: οὐκ ἔστι δοῦλος … αὐτόν . In Mat 10:24 a similar saying occurs; cf. also Luk 6:40 , and Luk 22:27 . The slave whose function it is to serve is not “greater,” μείζων , than his lord, who may expect to receive service, and therefore the slave may well stoop to the offices which the lord himself discharges and count on no exemptions the lord does not claim.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The word signifieth an Apostle which is anyone that is sent from another.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

The servant is not greater than his lord, &c.--an oft-repeated saying (Mat 10:24, &c.).

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them--a hint that even among real Christians the doing of such things would come lamentably short of the knowing.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 16. The servant is not greater than his lord] Christ has ennobled the acts of humility by practising them himself. The true glory of a Christian consists in being, in his measure, as humble as his Lord.

Neither he that is sent] Ουδε αποϚολος Nor an apostle. As I think these words were intended for the suppression of all worldly ambition and lordly conduct in the apostles and their successors in the ministry, therefore I think the original word αποϚολος, should be translated apostle, rather than he that is sent, because the former rendering ascertains and determines the meaning better.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

16. Verily, verily, I tell you. These are indeed proverbial sayings, which admit of a far more extensive application, but which ought to be accommodated to the case in hand. In my opinion, therefore, they are mistaken who suppose them to have a general acceptation, as if Christ were now exhorting his disciples to bear the cross; for it is more correct to say that he employed them to serve his purpose.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(16) The servant is not greater than his lord.—These words have already occurred in the earlier Gospels in another connection. (Comp. Note on Mat_10:24, and Luk_6:40.) They occur again in this Gospel in Joh_15:20.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

16. The servant is not greater than his lord] This saying occurs four times in the Gospels, each time in a different connexion: (1) to shew that the disciples must expect no better treatment than their Master (Mat_10:24); (2) to impress the Apostles with their responsibilities as teachers, for their disciples will be as they are (Luk_6:40); (3) here; (4) with the same purpose as in Mat_10:24, but on another occasion (Joh_15:20). We infer that it was one of Christ’s frequent sayings: it is introduced here with the double ‘verily’ as of special importance (Joh_1:51).

he that is sent] An Apostle (apostolos).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verily, verily, I say unto you,.... This is a strong way of asseveration, and is used when anything of moment and importance, and worthy of attention and observation is delivered.

The servant is not greater than his Lord; it is enough that he be as his Lord, which was a common phrase among the Jews; See Gill on Mat 10:24, Mat 10:25; and as it is there made use of, to inform the disciples they must expect persecution, and to encourage them to bear it with patience; here it is designed to engage to humility; for if a master condescends to perform such an action, much more may a servant:

neither he that is sent, is greater than he that sent him. This is also a way of speaking in use among the Jews;

"R. Meir says, (z) who is greatest, he that keeps, or he that is kept? from what is written in Psa 91:11, he that is kept, is greater than he that keeps: says R. Judah, which is greatest, he that carries, or he that is carried? from what is written in Psa 91:12, he that is carried, is greater than he that carries: says R. Simeon, from what is written, in Isa 6:8, , "he that sends, is greater than he that is sent".''

Which is the very phrase here used by Christ; and his meaning is this, that if it was not below him, who had chose and called, and sent them forth as his apostles, to wash their feet, they who were sent by him, should not disdain to wash one another's.

(z) Bereshit Rabba, fol. 68. 1.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Ver. 16. The servant is not greater, &c.] This answers all our exceptions against brotherly offices: I am his elder, better, greater than he, &c. But which of us can say, I am a god? Christ washed his disciples’ feet, though he knew that the Father had given all things into his hands, &c., as is expressly and for this very purpose noted here by the evangelist, Joh 13:3.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The servant is not ... - This was universally true, and this they were to remember always, that they were to manifest the same spirit that he did, and that they were to expect the same treatment from the world. See the notes at Mat 10:24-25.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The Verily, verily reveals the solemnity with which our Lord touched the frequently quoted aphorism. (Mat_10:24 Luk_6:40; and again Joh_15:20) The servant the slaveis not greater than his lord; you have already called me Lord, and so I am; neither is (one that is sent) an apostle greater than he that sent him on his great mission. Therefore if I, your Lord and Teacher, have set forth this principle of self-abnegating service, a fortiori should ye in love serve one another, the greatest should render even menial service to the humblest; he that would be first to him that is the last, and each to all. This is one of the essential marks, and ever will be, of the mind that was in Christ Jesus. (Mat_10:23, Mat_10:24, where an analogous phrase justifies the disciples in expecting and fleeing from persecution a step in which they would simply be following their Lord"s example; cf. a very different use of the proverb in Luk_6:40, where it is used to warn a blind man from assuming the office of a guide, and the resemblance of the character, etc., between the Teacher and disciple)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The servant is not greater than his Lord - Nor therefore ought to think much of either doing or suffering the same things.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Connecting Statement:

Jesus continues to speak to his disciples.

Truly, truly

See how you translated this in John 1:51.

greater

one who is more important or more powerful, or one who should have an easier life or a more pleasant life

you are blessed

Here "bless" means to cause good, beneficial things to happen to a person. You can translate this in an active form. AT: "God will bless you" (See: Active or Passive)

this so that the scripture will be fulfilled

You can translate this in an active form. AT: "this is in order to fulfill the scripture" (See: Active or Passive)

He who eats my bread lifted up his heel against me

Here the phrase "eats my bread" is an idiom for someone who pretends to be a friend. The phrase "lifted up his heel" is also an idiom, which means someone who has become an enemy. If you have idioms in your language that carry these meanings, you can use them here. AT: "the one who has pretended to be my friend has turned out to be an enemy" (See: Idiom)

translationWords

amen

servant

lord

messenger

send

bless

chosen one

word of God

bread

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

16. οὐκ ἔστιν δοῦλος κ.τ.λ. This saying occurs four times in the Gospels, each time in a different connexion: (1) to shew that the disciples must expect no better treatment than their Master (Mat 10:24); (2) to impress the Apostles with their responsibilities as teachers, for their disciples will be as they are (Luk 6:40); (3) here, to teach humility (comp. Luk 22:27); (4) with the same purpose as in Mat 10:24, but on another occasion (Joh 15:20). We infer that it was one of Christ’s frequent sayings: it is introduced here with the double ἀμήν, as of special importance (Joh 1:51). Ἀπόστολος, one that it sent, an apostle.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

16. ἀμὴν ἀμήν κτλ., as usual, introduces an aphorism of special significance. See on 1:51.

οὐκ ἔστιν δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. Luk 6:40 has οὐκ ἐστὶν μαθητὴς ὑπὲρ τὸν διδάσκαλον; and Mat 10:24 combines the Johannine and Lucan forms of the saying. It is, of course, beyond question that the servant is not greater than his master (cf. Luk 22:27); but it is stated here to reinforce the lesson of the true dignity of service, which Jesus has been teaching by His example. If He may stoop to minister, without losing dignity, a fortiori may His disciples do so. The saying is repeated 15:20, where a different lesson is drawn from it.

οὐδὲ ἀπόστολος κτλ., “nor is he that is sent greater than Him that sent him.” ἀπόστολος is not found again in Jn., and is here used in its etymological sense of a “messenger,” as at 1Ki 14:6, 2Co 8:23, Php 2:25. The Synoptists tell that Jesus gave the title ἀπόστολοι to the Twelve (Luk 6:13), and they occasionally apply it to them. But Jn. always uses the older descriptions “the Twelve,” or “the Disciples.” It is possible that Jn. discovers a special allusion to the Twelve in the words “he that is sent is not greater than Him that sent him,” and that the word ἀπόστολος is specially significant here of their mission; but this is not certain. See on 2:2.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verily, verily. See on Joh 1:51; Joh 10:1.

The servant. No article. Better a servant, as Rev., a bond - servant. He that is sent [αποστολος] . Literally, an apostle. See on Mt 10:2.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.