John 14:21
What does John 14:21 mean?
A plain-English look at John 14:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 14:21 means
Jesus defines love for Him as possessing and keeping His commandments. Such love draws the Father’s love and the Son’s love in a special way of fellowship and approval, not because we earn it, but because obedience aligns us with His will. He further promises to manifest Himself to the one who loves Him—making Himself known in deeper, personal ways. This does not mean private revelations apart from Scripture, but a living awareness of His presence and truth. Love, obedience, divine love, and self-disclosure interweave, showing that intimacy with Christ grows where His words are cherished and obeyed.
John 14:21 in context
John 14 — I Am the Way
On the night before his crucifixion Jesus comforts his disciples. He is going to prepare a place for them; he is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by him. He promises another Comforter — the Holy Spirit — who will dwell in them and bring his words to remembrance. The peace he gives is not as the world gives. Even with the cross hours away, he turns from his own sorrow to steady theirs.
- Heaven
- Exclusivity of Christ
- Holy Spirit promised
- Christ's peace
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He who has my laws and keeps them, he it is who has love for me: and he who has love for me will be loved by my Father, and I will have love for him and will let myself be seen clearly by him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862he who is having my commands, and is keeping them, that one it is who is loving me, and he who is loving me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He that hath my commandments and keepeth them; he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me; but he that loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.
Context
Having spoken of mutual indwelling, Jesus now links that union to ethics: love expresses itself by keeping His commands. The promise of a special self-manifestation to the obedient raises a question for Judas (not Iscariot) about why this is not shown to the world. That question will elicit an answer focused on love and obedience as the pathway to divine indwelling, in contrast to those who do not love and therefore do not keep His words. The flow emphasizes relational responsiveness over mere outward association.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 22:18
and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of thee testimony concerning me.
- John 16:14
He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
- Genesis 26:3
sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
- 2 Corinthians 5:14
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;
- Ezekiel 36:25
And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
- Isaiah 62:2
And the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory, and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name.
Sermon ideas from John 14:21
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 14:21 teaches us about heaven
What John 14:21 teaches us about exclusivity of christ
What John 14:21 teaches us about holy spirit promised
What John 14:21 teaches us about christ's peace
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