1 John 3:16–23

 ¹⁶ By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? ¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. ²⁰ For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. ²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. ²² And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. ²³ And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

Commentary

Vs. 16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”  

In commending us all to love, the Apostle John now cites the highest example of manifested love that has ever been. And that is the Lord Jesus Christ who suffered and died on the Cross for us all while we were still enemies of His so that we could know God’s love and have His salvation by God’s grace through faith in His Person (Rom. 5:8). Therefore, if the Lord Jesus so laid down His life for us, so that we could be saved, we too must also be willing to lay down our own lives for the brethren. Which may mean we will have to sacrifice our own desires, ambitions, and dreams to find our place in God’s service for them all. For there is no greater outworking of love than to lay down one’s life for the brethren, in all of its wonderful works and ways.

 Vs. 17 “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

Here then is the great call to exemplify the faith and love of Jesus Christ by sharing one’s material possessions with those in need, specifically with ones brother, for as the Apostle John says, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” For to see one’s brother destitute and in need and do nothing when it is in the power of one’s hand to do so is just an absolute denial of the faith that they profess to have, The Apostle James likewise has the same exhortation in regards to our not neglecting the poor amongst us, nor treating them with contempt, as is the manner of some who show partiality to the rich (see James 2:1-26, 5:1-6) which is nothing other than worldliness. Therefore if anyone does, they do not have the love of God in them, for God loves the poor and needy, He is their defender (Ex. 22:22-24; 23:6-9; Deut. 10:18-19; Psalm 68:5-6, 9-10; 82;2-3; 72:2, 4; 74:19; 145:17; 146:9; Isaiah 1:16-17; 11:4; 41:17 etc.) and so the Lord Jesus Christ throughout His Ministry and throughout the Scriptures makes it clear that those who provide for the poor and defend the cause of the poor are doing the Will of God in their lives (consider Deut. 15:7-11; Psalm 41:1-3; 72:4, 12-14; Prov. 14:31; 29:7; 31:8-9; Isaiah 25:4; 32:7-8; 41:17; 58; 82:3-4; Jer. 22:16-17; Luke 4:18-19; 6:20-26; Gal 2:10 etc., while those who do not are not obeying Him, Psalm 37:12-15; 109:16-20; Prov. 30:14; Isaiah 10:1-4; Jer. 5:28-29; Ezekiel 22:29-31; Amos 4:1-3; 8:4-13 etc.).

Vs. 18 “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

And so, the Apostle John, like the Apostle James makes it clear that lip service is only playing the hypocrite, and is not serving God, nor ones well man.

 Vs. 19 “And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.”

 Like with love and practicing righteousness, caring for the poor, especially the poor amongst us, reveals whether one is of the truth or not (consider Jer. 22:16-17, Luke 16:19-31).

 Vs. 20-21 ²⁰ For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. ²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

 And so here the Apostle John reminds us to listen to our heart, for God speaks to us in our hearts, and He guides us into doing what is right, though we still have to choose to do what is right. Thus, if our heart condemns us, we should listen and make a change, for God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things. However, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God, because we know that we have done (or are doing) the will of God. Therefore, brethren do not harden your hearts towards doing the Will of God when you know what it is, and it is in the power of your hand to do so.

Vs. 22 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

 Here like the Lord Jesus (Matt. 7:7-11; 21:21-22; 16:24), and the Apostle James (James 4:3), the Apostle John reaffirms that whatever we ask from God we receive, linking it with keeping His commandments and doing those things that are pleasing in His sight, like showing mercy to the needy and being just and charitable towards one and towards all. Thus, God does not answer prayers of selfishness, greed and or covetousness, but He does answer the prayers of the just so that we may do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Vs. 23 “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”

 What is the commandment of God for everyone? It is simply that we believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He (the Lord Jesus Christ) gave us commandment (John 13:34-36).

Scripture Quotations 

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.