John 13:35

“By this shall all men know, etc.] Not only by this you yourselves will know that ye have passed from death to life, that the true work of grace is begun upon your hearts; nor only by this will you know one another to be Christians; but by this all men, even the men of the world will know, that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another: and own and acknowledge it, as Tertullian f592 says the very Heathens did in his time; who would say, when they saw the Christians pass along the streets, and meet and express their affection to each other, “see how they love one another”: would to God the same was as observable now. The distinguishing badge and character of a disciple of Christ, is…”

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples--the disciples of Him who laid down His life for those He loved. if ye have love one to another--for My sake, and as one in Me; for to such love men outside the circle of believers know right well they are entire strangers. Alas, how little of it there is even within this circle!”

“By this shall all men ... - That is, your love for each other shall be so decisive evidence that you are like the Saviour, that all people shall see and know it. It shall be the thing by which you shall be known among all men. You shall not be known by special rites or habits; not by a special form of dress or manner of speech; not by special austerities and unusual customs, like the Pharisees, the Essenes, or the scribes, but by deep, genuine, and tender affection. And it is well known it was this which eminently distinguished the first Christians, and was the subject of remark by the surrounding pagans. “See,” said the pagan, “see how they love one another! They are ready to lay down their…”

“Joh 17:21; Gen 13:7, Gen 13:8; Act 4:32-35, Act 5:12-14; Jo1 2:5, Jo1 2:10, Jo1 3:10-14, Jo1 4:20, Jo1 4:21 John 13:36”