John 15:18

“If the world hate you, etc.] After our Lord had signified how much he loved his disciples and what great things he had done for them, he faithfully acquaints them with the world’s hatred of them, and what they must expect to meet with from that quarter, and says many things to fortify their minds against it; his words do not imply any doubt about it, but he rather takes it for granted, as a thing out of question; “if”, or “seeing the world hate you”; they had had some experience of it already, and might look for more, when their master was gone from them: wherefore, he, in order to engage their patience under it, says, ye know that it hated me before it hated you; which words are an appeal…”

“If the world hate you - The friendship of the world they were not to expect, but they were not to be deterred from their work by its hatred. They had seen the example of Jesus. No opposition of the proud, the wealthy, the learned, or the men of power, no persecution or gibes, had deterred him from his work. Remembering this, and having his example steadily in the eye, they were to labor not less because wicked men should oppose and deride them. It is enough for the disciple to be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord, Matthew 10:25. return to 'Top of Page'”

“15:18-27 Disciples must be like their master in every respect, both in showing love and obedience and in experiencing the antagonism of those who oppose their message (15:20-21; see 9:1-41; 11:16). If the darkness is opposed to the light (1:5), and if Jesus’ followers are bearers of that light in the world (1 Jn 1:7; 2:9), they should expect the world to hate them in the way it hated Jesus (see John 17:14). Jesus’ disciples share his separation from and conflict with the world.”

“Joh 15:23-25, Joh 3:20, Joh 7:7; Kg1 22:8; Isa 49:7, Isa 53:3; Zac 11:8; Mat 5:11, Mat 10:22; Mat 24:9; Mar 13:13; Luk 6:22; Heb 12:2; Jam 4:4; Jo1 3:1, Jo1 3:3, Jo1 3:13 John 15:19”