BROTHERHOOD
‘Love the brotherhood’
This is an instruction which commends itself to our conscience, but which we find difficult to obey. The love of brethren seems, in itself, a reasonable requirement; and it is so decisively demanded by our Lord Himself (see John 13:14; John 13:34-35; John 15:12-13; John 15:17), that it ought to take a front place in the rank of Christian obligations.
The reference in the text is undoubtedly to the Christian brotherhood; yet we need not wholly exclude others from our thought.
I. The human brotherhood.—All men are related to Jesus Christ. For them He lived and died; He is addressing and visiting them all; He is claiming all as His subjects and servants; He is the one hope and refuge of mankind. As thus related to Him we may bring them within our view as we think of ‘the brotherhood.’
II. The Christian nation.—We distinguish one nation from another by the faith their populations hold and the principles they practise. Thus regarded, we are a Christian people. But we are very far from such a ‘brotherhood’ as St. Peter had in view.
III. The disciples of Christ.
(a) The inner circle of all those who, in any country and in any society, are looking towards the Saviour.
(b) The innermost circle of those who are closely bounded together in Christian fellowship, striving together for the faith of the Gospel.
Illustration
‘Remember where you are, if you be lively members of the body of Christ. You have been chosen out of the world, gathered into a fold of which Christ is the door, adopted into a home for the members of which He prayed to the Eternal Father “that they may be one, as We are.” If you be true to your character, you will find in the peace of love and unity of your Christian home not only a solace for the troubles of the world, but a counter-attraction against its sinful pleasures and shelter against its dangers. And, moreover, that love and union, which ministers to your joy, serves to the glory of God, and wins souls from the world into the Church.’
(SECOND OUTLINE)
THE ATTITUDE OF BROTHERHOOD
‘Loving the brotherhood’ includes many more thoughts and feelings than one.
I. Towards those that are within the human brotherhood it becomes us to show—
(a) A profound compassion;
(b) An intelligent solicitude;
(c) A courageous and Christian endeavour.
II. Towards those that are within the Christian brotherhood it becomes us to show—
(a) A deep fraternal sympathy;
(b) A genuine esteem;
(c) A cordial affection.
How can we love those who, while they may belong to ‘the brotherhood,’ show themselves unamiable at nearly every point? There is one way by which even this difficulty may be surmounted. We must regard ‘the brotherhood’ with Christian eyes.