Charles Ellicott Commentary John 15:17

"These things I command you, that ye may love one another." — John 15:17 (ASV)

These things I command you — that is, the things of which He has spoken from John 15:1 and following, and especially from John 15:12-16. After speaking them He comes back to the purpose from which this section started, that you love one another.

We must beware of the frequent mistake of interpreting “these things” of the words which follow, as if it were, “I command you this, namely, to love one another.” The thought is, “I am giving you these precepts that you may love one another.”