John 13:34

ἐντολὴν καινήν. The commandment to love was not new, for ‘thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’ (Leviticus 19:18) was part of the Mosaic Law. But the motive is new; to love our neighbour because Christ has loved us. We have only to read the ‘most excellent way’ of love set forth in 1 Corinthians 13, and compare it with the measured benevolence of the Pentateuch, to see how new the commandment had become by having this motive added. Καινήν not νέαν: καινός looks back, ‘fresh’ as opposed to ‘worn out’ (John 19:41; 1 John 2:7-8, which doubtless refers to this passage; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 21:1-5); νέος looks forward, ‘young’ as opposed to ‘aged’ (Luke 5:39; 1 Corinthians 5:7). Both are used Mark 2:22, οἶνον νέον εἰς�, new wine into fresh wine-skins. Both are used of διαθήκη: νέα, Hebrews 12:24; καινή, Luke 22:20. Ἐντολὴν διδόναι is peculiar to S. John (John 12:49; John 14:31; 1 John 3:23; comp. John 11:57). Καθὼς ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς belongs to the second half of the verse, being the reason for the fresh commandment;—even as I (have) loved you. Comp. ‘If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another’ (1 John 4:11). The aorist shews that Christ’s work is regarded as already completed; but the perfect is perhaps more in accordance with English idiom: see on John 8:29 and comp. John 15:9; John 15:12.