John 13:34

A new commandment 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. There are two words for -new" in Greek; one looks forward, -young," as opposed to -aged;" the other looks back, -fresh," as opposed to -worn out." It is the latter that is used here and in John 19:41. Both are used in Matthew 9:17, but our version ignores the difference -They put newwine into freshwineskins." The phrase -to give a commandment" is peculiar to S. John; comp. John 12:49; 1 John 3:23.

as I have loved you These words are rightly placed in the second half of the verse. They do not mean -love one another in the same wayas I have loved you;" but they give the reason for the fresh commandment - even as I have loved you." S. John states the same principle in the First Epistle (John 4:11) -If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." Comp. John 15:13.