Bible scholars, teachers and deep readers. At John 13:34 Jesus gave a NEW command...?

In a sense, the command Jesus gave to his followers was an old one, based on Leviticus 19:18. However, for Christ's disciples it was new, because it was the mark of their brotherhood,created by Christ's great love for them.

In Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus says that whoever does the will of his Father in heaven is part of Jesus' spiritual family.

As for John 21:15-17 Jesus asked Simon Peter to demonstrate his love by taking care of (feeding) his sheep. His sheep are all whom the Father gives to him, all who come to saving faith in Christ Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

1 Corinthians 13 is all about Christian love and how is the greatest gift we have, surpassing gifts of prophecy, of wisdom and knowledge.

Finally, 1 John 3:14-16 shows how Jesus Christ loved us so much he laid down his life for us, and this is our example, that we should be prepared to lay down our lives for our brothers. This perfect love shows how those who belong to Christ Jesus have "passed from death to life" spiritually speaking.

Love must be the distinguishing mark of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus’ “new command” takes its point of departure from the Mosaic commands to love the Lord with one’s entire being -- heart, soul, and might -- and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Lev. 19:18; cf. Deut. 6:5; Mark 12:28–33), but Jesus’ own love and teaching deepen and transform these commands. Jesus even taught love for one’s enemies (Matt. 5:43–48). That the disciples were to love one another was not a new commandment. However, that they were to love each other with the sort of love modeled by Jesus was dramatic.

Thanks for the question. Peace and joy be with you :)

Yes. A very nice way to understand the word "new" is by also reading 1 John 2:3-11. "New" is used as a kind of special emphasis.

What makes this command new?

What does the Bible say about the WAY Jesus loves his disciples?

Who are included as his disciples?

I believe getting to really understand this NEW command gets to the heart of what a true Christian really is. Do you agree?

I'll give this one a week. OK?

Not really, he was making it simpler by making two commandments instead the original 10 plus the hundreds of laws given to Moses.

(Leviticus 19:18) “‘You must not take vengeance nor hold a grudge against the sons of your people, and you must love your fellow man as yourself.

The night before he died, Jesus told his closest disciples: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:34, 35)

What makes this a new commandment? The Mosaic Law had already commanded: “You must love your fellow [or, neighbour] as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18) But the new commandment calls for a greater love, a love that would move us to give our own life in behalf of others. Jesus himself made this clear when he said: “This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends.” (John 15:12, 13) The new commandment, in effect, says: “Love others, not as yourself, but more than yourself.” By his life and death, Jesus certainly exemplified such love. Yes, self-sacrificing love identifies us as true Christians.

How did Jesus love his disciples? A little later that evening, Jesus clarified matters, stating: “This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends.” (John 15:12, 13) The Mosaic Law commanded the Israelites to ‘love their fellow as themselves.’ (Leviticus 19:18) But Jesus’ commandment went further. Christians were to love one another as Christ loved them, being willing to sacrifice their very lives for their brothers.

1 John 3:16: This commandment involves a call not just to love one another in normal aspects of everyday life but to be willing even to surrender our life in behalf of our brother. That was something that the Mosaic Law did not stipulate. Jesus set the foremost example. He loved his disciples in a self-sacrificing way. Such love meant that he had to die in behalf of his disciples, and Jesus was prepared to do so. And he expected his disciples, including us, to be willing to do as much. In behalf of our fellow Christians, we may have to travel down a road involving pain and perhaps even death.

Who are included as Jesus’ disciples? Jesus says that whoever does the will of his Father in heaven are his brothers and sisters (Matthew 12:46-50). Jesus’ disciples are those who love one another, who are identified by their self-sacrificing love and who are prepared to lay down their lives for their brothers and sisters. They are the only true Christians, and they have passed from death to life (1 John 3:14-16). They are Jehovah’s true Christian Witnesses. Nobody else has that sort of love

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“Indeed, to keep receiving God’s blessing, we need to pay attention to all the directions provided through the Christian congregation. Having an obedient spirit now will help us to follow directions during the “great tribulation,” which will eliminate Satan’s entire evil system. “

Yes, he gave a new commandment to love one another---as they loved themselves!

Jesus said, "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matthew 23:33) He verbally and physically abused people and threatened them. If that is his kind of love, I don't want it.

eye for an eye is kind of outdated because it leads to too many unjust killings.