1 John 5:3 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For this is the love of God - This the love of God necessarily produces. It is vain to pretend love to God while we live in opposition to his will.

His commandments - To love him with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves, are not grievous - are not burdensome; for no man is burdened with the duties which his own love imposes. The old proverb explains the meaning of the apostle's words, Love feels no loads. Love to God brings strength from God; through his love and his strength, all his commandments are not only easy and light, but pleasant and delightful.

On the love of God, as being the foundation of all religious worship, there is a good saying in Sohar Exod., fol. 23, Colossians 91:"Rabbi Jesa said, how necessary is it that a man should love the holy blessed God! For he can bring no other worship to God than love; and whoever loves him, and worships him from a principle of love, him the holy blessed God calls his beloved."

1 John 5:3

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.