Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus offers not just a blessing of peace, but His peace – the very calm He possessed amidst life's storms. This isn't the fleeting comfort the world offers, which often brings anxiety with it, but a deep, abiding peace rooted in His presence and His promises. It's a peace that stills our inner turmoil and equips us to face external threats without succumbing to fearful panic.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is speaking his final words to his disciples before his crucifixion, offering them comfort and reassurance. He acknowledges his imminent departure and the distress it will cause, but promises that the Holy Spirit will come as their Helper, reminding them of Jesus' teachings and guiding them. This promise of peace is a direct response to their anticipated fear and anxiety about his absence.
Jesus is about to leave his disciples, but His parting words aren't about His absence. They're about an incredible gift He leaves behind.
In His final moments with His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus uses the language of leaving a legacy or a will. He says, 'Peace I leave with you.' This wasn't just a common Jewish farewell greeting wishing general prosperity.
Christ's Unique Bequest
Christ offers something far more profound than a mere wish. He leaves His disciples His own peace. This 'my peace' speaks to a deep, internal tranquility that comes from being reconciled with God, a state of being at rest in Him. It's the peace that silences the inner turmoil and conflict, a direct result of His finished work on the cross.
More Than Just Calm
This peace isn't just the absence of conflict; it's a positive possession. It's the result of a right relationship with God, a relationship Christ Himself secured. It's the peace that remains even in the midst of external storms, a testament to His enduring presence and power.
The world offers comfort, but Jesus warns us not to expect the same kind of peace from Him. What's the difference?
Jesus makes a stark contrast: 'Not as the world gives do I give to you.' The world's idea of peace often relies on external circumstances – comfort, security, success, or the absence of trouble. But this peace is fragile, dependent on things that can change in an instant.
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Worldly Peace:
Christ's Peace:
Jesus isn't offering a peace that avoids trouble, but a peace that can coexist with it. It's a peace that comes from knowing Him, trusting His promises, and having our hearts anchored in Him, regardless of what's happening around us.
Jesus saw His disciples' fear. His command to not be troubled or afraid isn't a suggestion; it's empowerment.
The verse concludes with a direct command: 'Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.' This isn't just an optimistic wish; it's a powerful directive rooted in the reality of the peace He gives.
The Source of Fear
Jesus knew the disciples' hearts were prone to trouble and fear, especially with His impending departure. Their anxieties stemmed from uncertainty, loss, and the unknown dangers ahead. The world's peace crumbles under such pressure.
The Power to Obey
However, Christ doesn't just tell them not to be afraid; He has just given them the very means to overcome it – 'my peace.' This peace isn't passive; it's an active force that stills the soul. It empowers believers to face difficulties not with panic, but with trust in God's unfailing presence and provision, secured by Christ's victory.
A Constant Command
This command is for all of Jesus' followers, in every generation. When our hearts feel restless or fearful, it's an invitation to lean into the peace Christ has already secured and gifted to us, trusting that He who overcame the world is with us.
Understand the original words
eirēnē · Greek Noun
A state of well-being, wholeness, and reconciliation with God; it is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of divine harmony.
kardia · Greek Noun
The seat of the emotions, intellect, will, and conscience; the core of a person’s moral and spiritual life.
tarassō · Greek Verb
A state of being agitated, anxious, or inwardly disturbed; biblically, it is often contrasted with trust in God.
deiliaō · Greek Verb
A sense of dread or terror, which the Bible often commands believers to avoid by placing their faith and fear in God rather than human circumstances.
In these final moments before his crucifixion, Jesus is preparing his closest followers for his physical absence. He understands their fear and confusion, offering a peace that is fundamentally different from anything the world can provide – a peace rooted in his own divine nature, his atoning work, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Final Days in Jerusalem
Jesus spends his last week in Jerusalem, teaching his disciples and engaging with religious leaders, culminating in his crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Arrest and Trial
Following the Last Supper, Jesus is arrested, tried by Jewish authorities and then by Roman officials, leading to his condemnation.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion and Burial
Jesus is crucified on Golgotha and then buried in a tomb, marking the end of his earthly ministry.
c. AD 30
Resurrection of Jesus
On the third day, Jesus is raised from the dead, appearing to his disciples and confirming his victory over death.
c. AD 30
The Ascension of Jesus
Jesus ascends into heaven after a period of post-resurrection appearances, promising to send the Holy Spirit.
c. AD 30 - AD 33
Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples at Pentecost, empowering them to spread Jesus' message and providing comfort and guidance.
This verse echoes the sentiment of trusting in God for peace, directly contrasting with the world's unstable peace, just as John 14:27 does.
Philippians 4:7This passage describes the peace of God that surpasses understanding, which is exactly the kind of peace Christ promises to give, a peace that guards the heart and mind.
Romans 5:1This verse speaks of having peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ, highlighting the reconciling aspect of the 'peace' Christ imparts, distinct from worldly assurances.
John 16:33Jesus directly tells His disciples that in Him they will have peace, even amidst tribulation, reinforcing the idea that His peace is not dependent on outward circumstances like the world's peace.
Colossians 3:15This verse calls for the peace of Christ to rule in believers' hearts, emphasizing that Christ's peace is an active, governing principle within, not a passive external blessing.
barnesJohn 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Peace I leave with you - This was a common form of benediction among the Jews. See the notes at Matthew 10:13 . It is the invocation of the blessings of peace and happiness. In this place it was, however, much more than a mere form or an empty wish. It came from Him who had power to make peace and to confer it on all, Ephesians 2:15…
vincentJohn 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Peace"These are last words, as of one who is about to go away and says 'good-night' or gives his blessing" (Luther). Peace! was the ordinary oriental greeting at parting. Compare John 20:21.My peace IgiveCompare 1 John 3:1. "It is of his own that one gives" (Godet).Let it be afraid (δειλιάτω)Only here in the New Testament. Properly…
Jesus offers not just a blessing of peace, but His peace – the very calm He possessed amidst life's storms. This isn't the fleeting comfort the world offers, which often brings anxiety with it, but a deep, abiding peace rooted in His presence and His promises. It's a peace that stills our inner turmoil and equips us to face external threats without succumbing to fearful panic.
Jesus is speaking his final words to his disciples before his crucifixion, offering them comfort and reassurance. He acknowledges his imminent departure and the distress it will cause, but promises that the Holy Spirit will come as their Helper, reminding them of Jesus' teachings and guiding them. This promise of peace is a direct response to their anticipated fear and anxiety about his absence.
Jesus is speaking his final words to his disciples before his crucifixion, offering them comfort and reassurance. He acknowledges his imminent departure and the distress it will cause, but promises that the Holy Spirit will come as their Helper, reminding them of Jesus' teachings and guiding them. This promise of peace is a direct response to their anticipated fear and anxiety about his absence.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." — Jesus offers not just a blessing of peace, but His peace – the very calm He possessed amidst life's storms. This isn't the fleeting comfort the world offers, which often brings anxiety with it, but…
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Last reviewed October 2026