1 John 4:20 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

If any man say, I love God And even say it with the utmost confidence; and hateth his brother Which he will do more or less, if he do not love him; he is a liar He affirms what is false, although, perhaps, he may not know it to be so; for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen Who is daily presented to his senses to raise his esteem, or move his kindness or compassion toward him; how can he love God, whom he hath not seen? Whose excellences are not the objects of his senses, but are discovered imperfectly from his works of creation, providence, and grace, or from the declarations and promises of his word; his invisible nature being an obstacle to our loving him, which our weak and carnal minds cannot be expected easily to conquer. Indeed, we never could love him unless, as the apostle observes, his love were shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given to us. And this commandment have we from him Both from God and Christ; that he who loveth God, love his brother in Christ also That is, every one, whatever his opinions or modes of worship may be, purely because he is the child and bears the image of God. Bigotry is properly the want of this pure and universal love. A bigot only loves those who embrace his opinions, and he loves them for that, not for Christ's sake.