1 John 4:21 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Ver. 21. And this commandment we have from him] Lo, here a singular evidence of God's great love to us, that he commandeth us also the love of our neighbour as well as of himself: quasi non tam de se amando fuerit sollicitus, quam de proximo nostro diligendo, saith Aretius. Our Saviour therefore, summing up the law, joineth those two precepts, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all," &c., and "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Yea, God prefers mercy before sacrifice; and is content that his own immediate service should be intermitted, rather than offices of love to our brother omitted. "Leave there thy gift, and go thy way; first be reconciled," Matthew 5:24 .

Love his brother also] If he be a good man, love him in God; if bad, for God.

1 John 4:21

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.