John 15:18–25 (WEL) “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own, but I have chosen you out of the world, that is why the world hates you. 20 “Remember what I said to you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you, too. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours as well. 21 “They will do all these things to you because of me, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin, but now they have no pretext for their sin. 23 “The one who hates me hates my Father as well. 24 “If I had not done the works among them, which no one else ever did, they wouldn’t have any sin, but now they have seen and hated both my Father and me. 25 “But this happens so that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated me for no reason.’ [Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4]
V18 “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before you.
There is always some form of opposition to the Christian. There is the constant spiritual badgering, accusing, etc., from the devil and his forces. All believers experience this. There is also physical, spiritual, financial, emotional, etc., abuse of most Christians, with many martyrs. All this hate is from the enemy of our souls because he hates the Lord Jesus and comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).
Our protection is from God Himself (Hebrews 13:5, Ephesians 6:10-20 (provision for us to apply to our lives), 1 Peter 1:5, Jude 1:24–25, and 2 Thessalonians 3:3).
V19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own, but I have chosen you out of the world, that is why the world hates you.
Evil people love evil people. God’s people love God’s people.
Believers in Jesus Christ have been regenerated, born again, at the point of their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone.
I chose my wife, and she chose me based on character traits and spiritual life. God chooses His people based on their faith in Jesus Christ.
The Greek word for chosen in Matthew 12:18 is G140 αἱρετίζω hairetízō (from G138) and means (Word Study Dictionary) “To take, with the implication that what is taken is eligible or suitable, to choose by reason of its suitability.” G138 is haireō [verb: αἱρέω] and means (AMG’s Comprehensive Dictionary of New Testament Words) “To decide, to select, to prefer > Paul did not know if he should choose to live or to die (Philippians 1:22). God had chosen the Thessalonians from the beginning for salvation (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God (Hebrews 11:25).”
The Greek word for chosen in verse 19 is G1586 ἐκλέγομαι eklegomai and means (Word Study Dictionary) “To choose, select, choose for oneself, not necessarily implying the rejection of what is not chosen, but giving favor to the chosen subject, keeping in view a relationship to be established between the one choosing and the object chosen. It involves preference and selection from among many choices.” (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains (Louw & Nida)) “to make a choice of one or more possible alternatives— to choose, to select, to prefer.”
On what basis does Jesus choose believers?
Stephen was chosen by the early church based on certain traits, namely (Acts 6:3 “Therefore, brothers, look among you for seven men with an honest reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint over this matter.”
Believers are chosen (corporate election) when they believe and “put on Christ.” Galatians 3:26-29) For you are all the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 For whoever has been baptized into Christ has put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither servant nor free. There is neither male nor female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”)
V20 “Remember what I said to you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you, too. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours as well.”
Principle: Since our Lord Jesus was persecuted, we also will suffer afflictions, trials, and persecution of some sort and type.
Unbelievers persecuted our Lord Jesus; thus, unbelievers will be the ones who persecute believers all through history. Compare John 7:7.
Believers obey Jesus’s words, and believers today will still obey Jesus’s words.
V21 “They will do all these things to you because of me because they do not know him who sent me.”
The reason for persecution is that unbelievers have rejected, refused, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The words “ do not know him” (as in Acts 13:27) who sent me refer to a personal knowledge of God based on faith and trust in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:20), then the Holy Spirit indwells believers (1 Corinthians 3:16) and there is fellowship (1 John 1:6–7). This is knowing God.
V22 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin, but now they have no pretext for their sin.”
Jesus is the light of the world and exposes people’s sin. God initiates salvation (John 6:44, John 3:19–20, and John 16:8).
V23 “The one who hates me hates my Father as well.”
Jesus is God—God the Son. Compare John 10:30.
The Greek word for hate is G3404 μισέω miséō, which means (Word Study Dictionary) “usually implying active ill will in words and conduct, a persecuting spirit (Matthew 5:43) where it stands as opposite to agapáō[G25], to love.”
Compare Proverbs 8:36 and 1 John 2:23.
V24 “If I had not done the works among them, which no one else ever did, they wouldn’t have any sin, but now they have seen and hated both my Father and me.”
These works are the ministry of the Messiah as prophesied in the Old Testament. Compare John 3:2, Numbers 14:11, Matthew 8:13 (and many more), Acts 2:22, Isaiah 61:1, and Isaiah 53:4.
V25 “But this happens so that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated me for no reason.’ [Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4]
Why do people hate God? Here are a few reasons:
- Love sin
- Hate His exposure of their sins.
- Having guilt for their sins.
- Want to run their own life.
- Do not want God’s rules.
- Do not want Jesus as their God and Ruler.
- Do not like His sense of justice (Biblical justice).
We learn:
- Persecution will happen to followers of Jesus Christ.
- Why people (unbelievers) hate God.
Questions:
- What types of spiritual, soul, and physical persecution have you experienced as a Christian?
- Were you prepared and warned about this by your pastor?