1 John 4:20

Contextual Overview

¹⁷In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world. ¹⁷ Herein is our loue made perfect, that wee may haue boldnesse in the day of Iudgement, because as hee is, so are we in this world. ¹⁷ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. ¹⁷ By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. ¹⁷ By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, we also are in this world. ¹⁷ This is how love is made perfect in us: that we can be without fear on the day God judges us, because in this world we are like him. ¹⁷God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. ¹⁷ By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. ¹⁷In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him. ¹⁷ If we truly love others and live as Christ did in this world, we won't be worried about the day of judgment.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a man: 1 John 2:4, 1 John 3:17

not: 1 John 4:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:8 - brethren Genesis 37:4 - hated him Deuteronomy 10:12 - love 1 Kings 3:3 - loved Matthew 5:22 - his brother Matthew 25:40 - Inasmuch Matthew 25:42 - General Luke 3:11 - He that hath two Luke 11:42 - and pass John 1:18 - seen John 5:37 - Ye have John 5:42 - that John 13:35 - General John 14:15 - General Romans 12:10 - kindly 1 Corinthians 13:2 - and have Ephesians 5:2 - walk Hebrews 13:1 - General 1 Peter 1:8 - having 1 Peter 1:22 - unto 1 John 1:6 - If 1 John 2:22 - Who 1 John 3:14 - that loveth 1 John 4:7 - let 1 John 5:1 - and every 2 John 1:5 - that we

Cross-References

Genesis 4:2
Again she gave birth, to Kayin's brother Hevel. Hevel was a keeper of sheep, but Kayin was a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 4:2
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 4:2
Then she bore his brother Abel. And Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 4:2
After that, Eve gave birth to Cain's brother Abel. Abel took care of flocks, and Cain became a farmer.

Genesis 4:2
Then she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground.

Genesis 4:2
And [later] she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept the flocks [of sheep and goats], but Cain cultivated the ground.

Genesis 4:2
And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground.

Genesis 4:2
And againe she brought foorth his brother Habel, & Habel was a keeper of sheepe, and Kain was a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 4:2
And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground.

Genesis 4:2
Later she had another son and named him Abel. Abel became a sheep farmer, but Cain farmed the land.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother,.... Than which profession nothing can be more contradictory, not black and white, or hot and cold in the same degree:

he is a liar; it is not truth he speaks, it is a contradiction, and a thing impossible:

for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen; his person, which might have drawn out his affection to him; and something valuable and worthy in him, which might have commanded respect; or his wants and distresses, which should have moved his pity and compassion:

how can he love God whom he hath not seen? it cannot be thought he should; the thing is not reasonable to suppose; it is not possible he should; :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother - His Christian brother; or, in a larger sense, any man. The sense is, that no man, whatever may be his professions and pretensions, can have any true love to God, unless he loves his brethren.

He is a liar - Compare the notes at 1 John 1:6. It is not necessary, in order to a proper interpretation of this passage, to suppose that he “intentionally” deceives. The sense is, that this must be a false profession.

For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen ... - It is more reasonable to expect that we should love one whom we have seen and known personally, than that we should love one whom we have not seen. The apostle is arguing from human nature as it is, and everyone feels that we are more likely to love one with whom we are familiar than one who is a stranger. If a professed Christian, therefore, does not love one who bears the divine image, whom he sees and knows, how can he love that God whose image he bears, whom he has not seen? Compare the notes at 1 John 3:17.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother — This, as well as many other parts of this epistle, seems levelled against the Jews, who pretended much love to God while they hated the Gentiles; and even some of them who were brought into the Christian Church brought this leaven with them. It required a miracle to redeem St. Peter's mind from the influence of this principle. See Acts 10:0.

Whom he hath seen — We may have our love excited towards our brother, 1. By a consideration of his excellences or amiable qualities. 2. By a view of his miseries and distresses. The first will excite a love of complacency and delight; the second, a love of compassion and pity.

Whom he hath not seen? — If he love not his brother, it is a proof that the love of God is not in him; and if he have not the love of God, he cannot love God, for God can be loved only through the influence of his own love. See note on 1 John 4:19. The man who hates his fellow does not love God. He who does not love God has not the love of God in him, and he who has not the love of God in him can neither love God nor man.