If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15).
He 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 (John 14:21).
John MacArthur, in his book “Walk Worthy”, explains that there are three common Greek words for love:
Eros – This is the love that takes, that loves someone for what it can get out of them. It’s the love that’s typical of the world – sexual and lustful. It’s self-gratifying.*
Phileo – This is the give-and-take love that typifies friendship. The love because of what I can get from you and what I can give to you.*
Agape’ – This is the love that gives, no taking involved. It’s the kind of love that seeks the highest good for another no matter the cost. It is completely selfless. God loved mankind in this way: He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Jesus said, ”Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Agape’ is unconquerable benevolence; it is invincible goodness. It is the Greek word Ephesians 4:2 uses – the fruit which the Holy Spirit alone can produce in the believer’s life, of humility, which leads to gentleness, which leads to patience, which leads to forbearing love.*
In John 21 Jesus asked Peter twice; Do you love (agape’) me? Twice Peter answered to that question; Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you. Finally Jesus asked; Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (phileo) me? To which Peter answered yet again; Lord,…..you know that I love (phileo) you.
Peter, knowing his own heart, could not honestly say that he loved (agape’) the Lord in that way. However, Peter’s life and his death, demonstrated the very love (agape’) that Jesus was asking for.
How about you and I? Can we be as honest as Peter was about our own heart and yet as submissive to God’s will as Peter became in following the Lord to the very end?
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me (John 14:22-24).
If you love (agape’) me, keep my commandments.
…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…
*Walk Worthy – copyright 2025 by John MacArthur, page 132.