Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.
Significance
OT: only Abraham and (implicitly) Moses = "friends of God." Jewish writings apply to other OT figures, holy souls, students of Torah. Jesus extends friendship privilege to all believers, predicated on obedience. Election rarely mentioned for OT "friends of God" (once for Abraham [Nehemiah 9:7], Moses [Psalm 106:23]). OT election primarily relates to king and Israel (God's chosen people). Jesus breaks custom: rabbis didn't choose disciples; disciples attached to rabbi. Tithēmi ("appointed") probably Semiticism, same expression used for: Abraham appointed father of nations (Genesis 17:5), Levites ordained (Numbers 8:10), Joshua commissioned (Numbers 27:18).
Found via
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type
Allusion
Connection Method(s)
Analogy + Contrast
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