John 15:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
John 15:20
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your's also.
Chapter Context
John 15 is a theological gospel chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of prayer, grace, wisdom. Written during the late first century CE (c. 90-95 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Addressed late first-century challenges from both Judaism and emerging Gnostic thought.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-27: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it foreshadows Christ's work through typology and prophetic elements. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within John and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
John 15:20
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your's also.
Analysis
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord—Jesus recalls His earlier teaching (John 13:16, Matthew 10:24) using doulos (slave/servant) and kyrios (lord/master). The principle establishes hierarchy and shared experience: slaves cannot expect treatment superior to their master. This isn't abstract theology but practical preparation for persecution.
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you (εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν, καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν/ei eme ediōxan, kai hymas diōxousin)—the conditional assumes reality: they DID persecute Jesus (throughout His ministry—attempts to stone Him, drive Him from towns, now culminating in crucifixion), therefore they WILL persecute disciples. The verb diōkō means to pursue, chase, harass, drive away—systematic hostility, not mere disagreement.
If they have kept my saying, they will keep your's also (εἰ τὸν λόγον μου ἐτήρησαν, καὶ τὸν ὑμέτερον τηρήσουσιν/ei ton logon mou etērēsan, kai ton hymeteron tērēsousin)—the verb tēreō means to guard, observe, keep. Jesus acknowledges that those who received His teaching will receive the apostles' teaching. This promise encouraged first-century missionaries: genuine seekers who believed Christ would believe apostolic testimony.
The verse balances realism and hope: expect persecution like your Master suffered, but also expect receptivity where Christ was received. The same message that divides will also save.
Historical Context
Jesus spoke this hours before His arrest. The disciples needed preparation for imminent trauma—their Master's crucifixion—and subsequent opposition. Within weeks, they faced the Sanhedrin's threats (Acts 4:1-22, 5:17-42). Within years, systematic persecution scattered the church (Acts 8:1-4) and martyred leaders like Stephen and James.
The principle "servant not greater than lord" appears across Jesus' teaching because disciples struggled with ambition and status-seeking (Matthew 18:1-4, 20:20-28, Luke 22:24-27). Here it reframes suffering: persecution isn't divine abandonment but shared experience with Christ. Paul later develops this: "that I may know him, and the fellowship of his sufferings" (Philippians 3:10).
The balanced prediction (some persecute, some receive) proved true throughout church history. Same apostolic preaching produced both martyrdom and mass conversions. Same Reformation gospel sparked both Inquisition burnings and Continental awakenings.
Reflection
- How does viewing persecution as sharing Christ's experience rather than divine punishment transform your response to suffering?
- What forms does "persecution" take in contemporary Western contexts versus openly hostile cultures?
- How can the promise that some "will keep your saying" encourage faithful witness in the face of opposition?
Word Studies
- Lord: Κύριος (Kurios) G2962 - Lord, Master
Cross-References
- References Lord: John 13:16, Matthew 10:24, 1 Thessalonians 2:15
- Parallel theme: John 8:51, 10:31, Ezekiel 3:7, Luke 6:40, 1 Corinthians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 4:9