John 15:3

15:3 You are clean already ¹  because of the word that I have spoken to you.

John 15:10

15:10 If you obey ²  my commandments, you will remain ³  in my love, just as I have obeyed ⁴  my Father’s commandments and remain ⁵  in his love.

John 15:14

15:14 You are my friends ⁶  if you do what I command you.

[15:3]  ¹ sn The phrase you are clean already occurs elsewhere in the Gospel of John only at the washing of the disciples’ feet in 13:10, where Jesus had used it of the disciples being cleansed from sin. This further confirms the proposed understanding of John 15:2 and 15:6 since Judas was specifically excluded from this statement (but not all of you).

[15:10]  ² tn Or “keep.”

[15:10]  ³ tn Or “reside.”

[15:10]  ⁴ tn Or “kept.”

[15:10]  ⁵ tn Or “reside.”

[15:14]  ⁶ sn This verse really explains John 15:10 in another way. Those who keep Jesus’ commandments are called his friends, those friends for whom he lays down his life (v. 13). It is possible to understand this verse as referring to a smaller group within Christianity as a whole, perhaps only the apostles who were present when Jesus spoke these words. Some have supported this by comparing it to the small group of associates and advisers to the Roman Emperor who were called “Friends of the Emperor.” Others would see these words as addressed only to those Christians who as disciples were obedient to Jesus. In either case the result would be to create a sort of “inner circle” of Christians who are more privileged than mere “believers” or average Christians. In context, it seems clear that Jesus’ words must be addressed to all true Christians, not just some narrower category of believers, because Jesus’ sacrificial death, which is his act of love toward his friends (v. 13) applies to all Christians equally (cf. John 13:1).