John 15:20 · Bible study
John 15:20 Commentary: Study: The Servant and the Master's Lot
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Do Jesus' words about 'kept my word' mean hostile watching or faithful obedience? Commentators weigh in on this key verse.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus assures disciples they will share his fate, whether persecution or acceptance.
- Key words: μνημονεύετε (remember, present imperative), ἐδίωξαν/διώξουσιν (persecuted/will persecute, aorist/future), ἐτήρησαν/τηρήσουσιν (kept/will keep, aorist/future of τηρέω, see debate).
- Main debate: Does “kept my word” mean hostile watching (Clarke) or faithful obedience (Cambridge, Calvin)?
- Theological theme: The union of Christ and his people: he is the pattern for both suffering and success.
- Best use: Prepare believers for realistic expectations in witness and discipleship, offering both warning and comfort.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
KJV King James Version 1769
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 yours also.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; if me they did persecute, you also they will persecute; if my word they did keep, yours also they will keep;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Remember the word which I said unto you, The bondman is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep also yours.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Acordaos de la palabra que yo os he dicho: No es el siervo mayor que su señor. Si á mí me han perseguido, también á vosotros perseguirán: si han guardado mi palabra, también guardarán la vuestra.
Lembrai-vos da palavra que vos tenho dito: não é o servo maior que seu senhor. Se me perseguiram, também vos perseguirão; se guardaram minha palavra, também guardarão a vossa.
Souvenez-vous de la parole que je vous ai dite: Le serviteur n’ est pas plus grand que son maître. S’ ils m’ ont persécuté, ils vous persécuteront aussi; s’ ils ont gardé ma parole, ils garderont aussi la vôtre.
Gedenket an mein Wort, das ich euch gesagt habe: “Der Knecht ist nicht größer denn sein Herr.” Haben sie mich verfolgt, sie werden euch auch verfolgen; haben sie mein Wort gehalten, so werden sie eures auch halten.
Gedenk des woords, dat Ik u gezegd heb: Een dienstknecht is niet meerder dan zijn heer. Indien zij Mij vervolgd hebben, zij zullen ook u vervolgen; indien zij Mijn woord bewaard hebben, zij zullen ook het uwe bewaren.
Ricordatevi della parola che v’ho detta: Il servitore non è da più del suo signore. Se hanno perseguitato me, perseguiteranno anche voi; se hanno osservato la mia parola, osserveranno anche la vostra.
Wspomnijcie na słowo, którem ja wam powiedział: Nie jest sługa większy nad pana swego. Jeźlić mię prześladowali, i was prześladować będą; jeźli słowa moje zachowywali, i wasze zachowywać będą.
Помните слово, которое Я сказал вам: раб не больше господина своего. Если Меня гнали, будут гнать и вас; если Мое слово соблюдали, будут соблюдать и ваше.
你們要記念 我 從前對你們 所 說 的話：『僕人 不 能 大於 主人。』他們若 逼迫了 我，也 要逼迫 你們；若 遵守了 我 的話，也 要遵守 你們的話。
Keep in mind the words I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they were cruel to me, they will be cruel to you; if they kept my words, they will keep yours.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · John 15:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that John 15:20 repeats a truth Jesus taught earlier: a servant is not greater than his master (see Matthew 10:24). The first half of the verse, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you,” is taken as a plain warning. The meaning of “kept my word” in the second half draws disagreement. Adam Clarke argues that the Greek verb τηρέω can mean to watch with hostile intent, as the Jews did with Jesus’ sayings. The Cambridge Bible and John Calvin reject that reading. They note that “keep” in John’s gospel consistently means faithful obedience (see John 8:51, 52; 14:23, 24). Calvin sees the second clause as encouragement: those who receive Christ’s word will also receive the apostles’ teaching. Both sides agree that the verse binds the disciples’ experience to Christ’s. They share his fate, whether persecution or welcome. The debate is about how to read the parallel structure of the verse: as two contrasting outcomes or as a pair of hostile actions.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Hostile watching: Adam Clarke; argues τηρέω can mean to watch with intent to accuse, citing similar uses and the context of Jewish opposition.
- Faithful obedience: Cambridge Bible and Calvin; note that τηρέω in John always means keep/obey (John 8:51-52; 14:23-24), and the second clause is a positive contrast.
What is clear: The principle that disciples share Christ’s fate — whether persecution or acceptance — is not in dispute; only the nature of the act described by 'kept my word' divides interpreters.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of the servant-master proverb | The proverb establishes that disciples cannot expect better treatment than Christ received. | Some limit the application to persecution; others include all aspects of the disciples’ experience (including acceptance). |
| Meaning of 'kept my word' (ἐτήρησαν τὸν λόγον) | The phrase involves some active engagement with Jesus’ words. | Adam Clarke sees it as hostile watching (παρατηρεῖν); the Cambridge Bible and Calvin insist it means faithful obedience throughout John’s gospel. |
| Relationship to Matthew 10:24 | Jesus earlier used the same proverb in the mission discourse. | Some commentators (Barnes) say John directly alludes to that occasion; others see it as a general saying Jesus repeated. |
| Application of persecution today | Believers in hostile contexts will face rejection for Christ's sake. | Traditions differ on whether persistent lack of persecution indicates spiritual compromise or simply living in a tolerant society. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits inside Jesus’ farewell discourse, given to the eleven disciples on the night before his death. The whole section from John 15:18 to 16:4 prepares them for the world’s hatred after he is gone. “The world” in John’s gospel means the human system that rejects God and his Son. Jesus has just told them that if they belonged to the world it would love them, but because he chose them out of the world it hates them (John 15:19). Verse 20 then grounds that hatred in Jesus’ own experience.
The saying “a servant is not greater than his lord” was first spoken when Jesus sent out the Twelve (Matthew 10:24). In that context it warned them to expect the same treatment their teacher received. Here in John the principle is applied to persecution and to the reception of teaching. The disciples would face rejection from Jewish religious leaders who had already decided to kill Jesus. Some of those leaders had taken note of Jesus’ words, not to obey them but to find grounds to accuse him (see Luke 6:7; 20:20). That historical reality gives weight to Clarke’s reading. Others point out that in John’s gospel “keeping” Jesus’ word is always a positive act of trust and obedience. The verse itself offers comfort: whether in rejection or in acceptance, the disciples will walk the same road their master walked.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for John 15:20. The main verbs (persecuted, kept, will persecute, will keep) appear consistently in the earliest manuscripts. The only minor variation is the presence or absence of the verb “have” with the aorist forms in some translations (KJV: “they have persecuted”), which does not affect the interpretation of the Greek aorist (simple past).
Reception History
Reformed commentators such as John Calvin and Matthew Henry read this verse primarily as comfort: sharing Christ’s lot is an honour, not a curse. The Geneva Bible notes reinforce this by linking the verse to the disciples’ earlier call. Baptist writer John Gill agrees, though he leaves the “kept” clause ambiguous. The Wesleyan tradition, represented by Adam Clarke, opened the possibility of reading the second half as a warning about hostile scrutiny. In modern evangelical preaching, the verse is often used to prepare new believers for realistic expectations. The emphasis falls on identity with Christ, that his story becomes theirs, in both suffering and fruitfulness.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Remember who you follow. Jesus calls the disciples to recall his earlier teaching. Their identity is bound to his. They are servants, not masters, so they cannot expect better treatment.
- Share his rejection. Persecution of Christ guarantees persecution of believers. The world’s hatred does not come from personal failures but from loyalty to Jesus.
- Share his reception. The same people who accept Christ’s word will accept the apostles’. Success is measured not by numbers but by faithfulness to the message.
Five-point outline
- Jesus commands remembering, this is deliberate, not automatic.
- The old proverb confirms the disciples’ position under Christ.
- Persecution from the world is expected, not abnormal.
- Reception of the word happens when hearers trust Christ first.
- Both outcomes, persecution and acceptance, mirror the master’s own experience.
Illustration hooks
- A tradesperson who works for a demanding boss gets treated the same way by customers. The assistant faces the same complaints and the same praises as the owner.
- A student in a controversial teacher’s class inherits both the admiration and the criticism that the teacher receives.
- A new pastor arrives at a church that loved or hated the previous pastor. The congregation’s response to the messenger often echoes their response to the message.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If I am not being persecuted, does that mean I am not following Jesus closely enough?
- How do I handle the fear that people will reject me because of my faith?
- What does it look like when someone truly “keeps” Jesus’ word in daily life?
Leading a Discussion
John 15:20 sits at the hinge of Jesus’ farewell discourse. He has warned the disciples about the world’s hatred, and now he anchors their expectations in his own experience. This verse is both sobering and hopeful: the disciples will share their master’s fate, whether that means persecution or a welcome hearing. As you discuss, let the group wrestle with both parts of the verse, not just the threat.
Discussion questions
- What does Jesus want the disciples to remember when he says “remember the word” (v. 20)? How might that memory help them later?
- The proverb “a servant is not greater than his lord” appears in other gospel contexts (Matthew 10:24; Luke 6:40). Why does Jesus repeat it here in the context of the world’s hatred?
- Look at the two “if” clauses. How are they similar? How are they different? What do these contrasts tell us about what the disciples should expect?
- Why would it be a comfort to know that the world’s response to you will be the same as its response to Jesus?
- Some interpreters read “they kept my word” as hostile watching (trying to catch Jesus in his speech). Others read it as accepting his teaching. Which reading do you find more consistent with the rest of John’s gospel? Why does it matter?
- How does this verse shape the way you think about evangelism or sharing your faith at work or school?
- What would it look like for your small group to “keep” Jesus’ word together this week, especially when you face indifference or opposition?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 8:7 | Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them. |
| Isaiah 53:1 | Who has believed our message? To whom has Yahweh’s arm been revealed? |
| Isaiah 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him. |
| Ezekiel 3:7 | But the house of Israel will not listen to you, for they will not listen to me; for all the house of Israel are obstinate and hard-hearted. |
| Matthew 10:24 | “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. |
| Luke 2:34 | Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. |
| Luke 6:40 | A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. |
| John 5:16 | For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke points out that the Greek word for "kept" may actually mean "watched" in a hostile sense, as if looking for something to accuse. He believes this fits the context better: just as opponents watched Jesus's words to entrap him, they will do the same to his followers.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Jesus is calling the disciples to recall a specific teaching He gave when they were first appointed as apostles. The word they are to remember is the principle from their commissioning, found in Matthew 10:24-25, that a servant is not greater than his master and will face the same treatment.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin insists that Christ's command "Remember the word" is an essential comfort for when the world despises the apostles' teaching. The reason they should not be shaken is that the same stubborn resistance was shown to Christ himself, and it is unreasonable for a servant to expect better treatment than the master. He also points out that when Christ calls the doctrine both "my doctrine" and "your doctrine," he is distinguishing Christ as the sole Teacher from the apostles who merely preach what he first taught.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentary emphasises that the world's hatred, rather than breaking their connection to Christ, actually intensifies their union with Him. Hatred proves the disciples do not belong to the world, and they share not only their Master's rejection but also His experience when some do accept their preaching. The note on "keep" insists the word means to obey, not to watch in a hostile sense; in both failure and success the disciples share Christ's lot.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note draws a direct parallel: as the world treated Christ, so it will treat his followers. Some will persecute them, but others will receive and keep their teaching, just as they received Christ's.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that Jesus gave this saying to prepare his followers for the world’s hatred. Since the servant is not greater than the master, they should expect the same treatment he received. If the world persecuted Christ with malicious intent, it will treat his disciples no better.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads the vine discourse against the backdrop of vineyard fires in the Kidron valley, where dead branches are burned. He emphasizes that Christ is the true vine in essential reality, not merely a symbol like Israel. The Father personally prunes fruitful branches for more fruit, and even the already-clean disciples need further purging through suffering.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry defines hatred as the defining mark of the devil's kingdom, contrasting with love as the mark of Christ's kingdom. The world that hates believers is not only vast in number but also united in confederacy against Christ, a coalition far outnumbering his followers. These are all who refuse Christ's call and remain under Satan's power.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent points out that the Greek word for "persecuted" originally meant to put to flight or to pursue, like a runner chasing a goal. The same root word can carry either hostile or positive intent, as in "I follow after" in Philippians. He notes that early English used "persecute" and "pursue" interchangeably.