John 15:13

that a man lay down Literally, in order that a man lay down:the greatest love is that of which the purposeis dying for those loved. On -lay down his life" see note on John 10:11.

for his friends Needless difficulty has been made about this, as if it were at variance with Romans 5:6-8. Christ here says that the greatest love that any one can shew towards his friends is to die for them. S. Paul says that such cases of self-sacrifice for good men occur; but they are very rare. Christ, however, surpassed them, for He died not only for His friends but for His enemies, not only for the good but for sinners. There is no contradiction. Nor is there any emphasis on -friends;" as if to suffer for friends were higher than to suffer for strangers or enemies. The order of the Greek words throws the emphasis on -life:" it is the unique character of the thing sacrificed that proves the love. Christ says -for His friends" because He is addressing His friends.