Charles Ellicott Commentary John 15:13

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." — John 15:13 (ASV)

Greater love hath no man than this.—Better, ... has no one than this. (Compare Note on John 10:18; John 10:29.) Nothing greater is conceivable in the thought of love. He has spoken of His own love for them as the measure of their love for each other. The thought of this verse focuses on what His love really was and what theirs should also be. (Compare especially Note on 1 John 3:16.)

That a man lay down his life for his friends.—Better, that anyone ... For the phrase “lay down his life,” compare John 10:11. The term “friends” is here used because those whom He is addressing were His friends. There is no opposition between this passage and Romans 5:6 and following. The point focused on is the greatness of the love, and the highest reach of love is the self-sacrifice which does not spare life itself.