Charles Ellicott Commentary John 13:20

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." — John 13:20 (ASV)

He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me.

The thoughts presented to their minds in the preceding verses are:

1. Their mission as His servants;
2. The betrayal by one of their own number;
3. The announcement of this beforehand so that, when it happened, it might confirm their faith.

They are to go forth, then, and to be content if their path is like the path their Master has trodden. They are not to be disheartened by treachery even in their midst, for this He had foreseen.

The words spoken when they were called to be Apostles still hold true. Their honour and encouragement is in the fact that they are Apostles from Him, as He is an Apostle from the Father. This truth is one of those solemn utterances on which He would have them dwell, and is therefore introduced by “Verily, verily.” (Compare Note on John 1:51.) For the words, which are exactly the same as those of the first commission, compare Note on Matthew 10:40.