21 and this `is' the command we have from Him, that he who is loving God, may also love his brother.
because this is the message that ye did hear from the beginning, that we may love one another,
And concerning the brotherly love, ye have no need of `my' writing to you, for ye yourselves are God-taught to love one another,
`Thou dost not take vengeance, nor watch the sons of thy people; and thou hast had love to thy neighbour as thyself; I `am' Jehovah.
And finally, being all of one mind, having fellow-feeling, loving as brethren, compassionate, courteous,
and this is His command, that we may believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and may love one another, even as He did give command to us,
My little children, may we not love in word nor in tongue, but in word and in truth!
and, before all things, to one another having the earnest love, because the love shall cover a multitude of sins;
for all the law in one word is fulfilled -- in this: `Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself;'
for, `Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false testimony, Thou shalt not covet;' and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: `Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself;' the love to the neighbor doth work no ill; the love, therefore, `is' the fulness of law.
The love unfeigned: abhorring the evil; cleaving to the good; in the love of brethren, to one another kindly affectioned: in the honour going before one another;
`A new commandment I give to you, that ye love one another; according as I did love you, that ye also love one another; in this shall all know that ye are my disciples, if ye may have love one to another.'
and he said, `He who did the kindness with him,' then Jesus said to him, `Be going on, and thou be doing in like manner.'
and Jesus answered him -- `The first of all the commands `is', Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God out of all thy heart, and out of thy soul, and out of all thine understanding, and out of all thy strength -- this `is' the first command; and the second `is' like `it', this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself; -- greater than these there is no other command.' And the scribe said to him, `Well, Teacher, in truth thou hast spoken that there is one God, and there is none other but He; and to love Him out of all the heart, and out of all the understanding, and out of all the soul, and out of all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as one's self, is more than all the whole burnt-offerings and the sacrifices.'
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 John 4
Commentary on 1 John 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
In this chapter the apostle exhorts to try spirits (v. 1), gives a note to try by (v. 2, 3), shows who are of the world and who of God (v. 4-6), urges Christian love by divers considerations (v. 7-16), describes our love to God, and the effect of it (v. 17-21).
1Jo 4:1-3
The apostle, having said that God's dwelling in and with us may be known by the Spirit that he hath given us, intimates that that Spirit may be discerned and distinguished from other spirits that appear in the world; and so here,
1Jo 4:4-6
In these verses the apostle encourages the disciples against the fear and danger of this seducing antichristian spirit, and that by such methods as these:-
1Jo 4:7-13
As the Spirit of truth is known by doctrine (thus spirits are to be tried), it is known by love likewise; and so here follows a strong fervent exhortation to holy Christian love: Beloved, let us love one another, v. 7. The apostle would unite them in his love, that he might unite them in love to each other: "Beloved, I beseech you, by the love I bear to you, that you put on unfeigned mutual love.' This exhortation is pressed and urged with variety of argument: as,
1Jo 4:14-16
Since faith in Christ works love to God, and love to God must kindle love to the brethren, the apostle here confirms the prime article of the Christian faith as the foundation of such love. Here,
1Jo 4:17-21
The apostle, having thus excited and enforced sacred love from the great pattern and motive of it, the love that is and dwells in God himself, proceeds to recommend it further by other considerations; and he recommends it in both the branches of it, both as love to God, and love to our brother or Christian neighbour.