The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 246

autliortty. Whero thoro is no Authority, there is neither rigl,t nor power to comman<i. 'l'hcre may be commands, but they are weak and powerless. Love to Christ recognize.,; his porsonol and administrative authority-hie authority over tho heart, lho will, the intellect, the conecience, Rnd over all the physical and spiritual nature. His kincrship ie freoly owned by love. 2. There is a recognition of a close and e.~.~en/i,rl conrM~tion, betwee11 him and his commandments. 'fhe king is in his laws. Christ is really in his commandments; they are expressions of his will; they are his will, spoken or written; they ore ports of himseH; they are, in fa.et, he himself acting upon an,! addressing man's morn! noture. 3. Tlii11 recognition is ever practical. "If ye love me, ye will keep," etc. Genuine love ·ever manifests itself in genuine and practical forms. It docs not begin ond end in mere sentiment, in good wishes, in sighs and tears, but is essentially practical, and practical in the most pleasing way to its object, in the way requested. "Ye will· keep," etc. Filial love ever manifests itself in filial obedience. 4. Thfa recognition ia most thorougl, and comprehensive. "Ye will keep my commandments." Not some of them, but nil. The obedience is commensurate with the Master's expressed will. Lovo is very careful to keep whatsoever is commanded, however apparently smoll and insignificant. It keeps a sharp look-out whether a commnnd bears the Divine signature nod the seal of Divine authority. It seeks not its own way of obedience, but i~ thoroughly satisfied with the one prescribed by the 11;reat Lawgiver. " What wilt thou havo me to do?" is ever the question of love to the Master. 5. Thia recognition is devotional. "My commandments." They are kept from love to him, from respect for his authority, from sympathy with his nature and character-kept because they are the recognized expressions of his will. Some of them are positive, the reasons for•which arc not stated; but love will obey them simply because they are his, and obey them for his sake. Jesus is now physically absent, but is ever present in his commands. Love to him finds its manifestation in ready and willing obedience to these. Personally he· is now above practical hatred or love, but in his expressed will he is still the Object of both. Love is loyal to him behind his back, and ever true to the absent Saviour; to it his laws are "more to be desired than gold, and sweeter than honey." II. LOVE TO OBRIST AS THE NEOESS.\RY BA5IS OF OBEDIENCE .TO :eru. "If ye love me," etc. As obedience is the essential consequence of love, so love is the essential wis of obedience. It is essential: 1. To make obedience real. Obedience which does not proceed from genuine love to Christ has no reality in it; it is not the genuine offspring of the heart, the real act of the soul; it lacks the essential motive and inspiration of all Christian deeds. It is formal, mechanical, legal, and empty. 2. To make obedience eas!i and delightful. Obedience not arising from love is forced, burdensome, and even painful-painful to the man himself and to others. Obedience which springs from fear, selfishness, legality, self~praise, or from mere custom, is insipid and wearisome; while the obedience oflove is oasy, natural, and pleasant. 'fo such the words of our Lord are full of truth ond_ significance: "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The leas:t duty, in the absence of love, is really heavy; while the heaviest, with it, is really light. Many have counted it joy to suffer, and even die, for Christ. They rejoiced in chains, and sang in flames. '.!.'heirs was the obedience of love, the offering of affection, and the tribute of a willing heart. 3. To make it spiritually and personally valuable. There is no spiritual value in unloving obedience. It may be acceptable with men, and pass- as a genuine coin in human markets, but it is a counterfeit in tho spiritual and Divine. It may benefit society, but will not spiritually benefit the man himself; and however extensive, minute, and ostentatious its performance may be, it will not score in heaven. It is found wanting in the b:1lance of God, and even in that of the enlightened con- science. "Though I speak with the tongues of men," etc. Love alone can impart spiritual volue into obedience, and fill it with life and Divinity. III. LOVING ODEDIENCE TO CHRIST ENSURING TilE DIVINEST BLESSD!GS. "If ye love- mo," etc.; "AnJ. I will pray the Father," etc. It brings into the soul the richest blessings, nnd in its interest the mightiest spiritual agencies. 1. The Holy Spirit. (1) 'l'he Holy Spirit as the Fathe,·'s Gift to them. "And he shall give;• etc. The Spirit is sometimes described as coming of himself, or sent by Christ, but here as the Gift of the Father. •All these descriptions are true and highly ~ignificant, but uot oue of them morll endearing and attractive than the Spirit as the F,\thcr's Gift to bis obedient and  THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST, JOHN, [oB. xiv, 1-31.