²⁴ “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

Making sure they don’t mistake what He is saying, Jesus repeats Himself in the negative. Before He said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” Now He asserts that, “He who does not love Me does not keep My words.”

The positive is a universal though indefinite statement applying to “anyone”; the negative uses an intensified singular focus, “he,” making this very personal. Imagine each of the disciples reviewing in his own mind whether this applies to himself. Can we not admit what we ourselves might be thinking? “Have I done enough to show the Lord that I love Him?” Certainly, Peter had already asserted his commitment to even die for Christ. According to the account of Matthew, they had already wondered about themselves at the talk about a betrayer, where each one said, “Lord, is it I?” (Matt 26:22). Who might Jesus have been looking at during that brief moment? Judas (not Iscariot)? Or was it like those liturgical pictures of Jesus where His eyes seem to pierce you from whatever angle you view it? If the eyes of the Lord pierced my soul, would He see my love for Him? Would He just be able to assess my love for Him by my actions?

If I do not love Christ, then why in the world would I want to keep His words? Oh, to be sure, there is societal pressure, even the benefits of Christian fellowship by outwardly donning obedience to the Bible (at least in the obvious ways) that will motivate a person to live Christianly. The Pharisees excelled in this kind of living. Outwardly impeccable, but in reality lacking love of God or neighbor. They loved their righteousness. God can see the difference when He observes our actions.

Notice the difference in the negative statement. Jesus refers to “My words,” whereas He used the singular in the positive statement, “the word.” Again, the specificity leads us to the idea that it is not just a ‘pick and choose’ approach to obedience, where we can claim faithful obedience in a certain percentage of our actions and attitudes. James, in his letter said that if we have broken the least of the commandments, we have essentially broken the law (James 2:10). Let there be no mistaking this point. If we love Christ, then there is nothing that He commands us that we would not be willing to do for Him. High standard, high calling. So, we study His love for us so that we grow in our love for Him. We aren’t there yet, but we desire to grow in His love.

Lord, help me love You more by showing me the depths of Your love for me.