Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
1 John Ch.4 / 5 Ch.s
1JO:4
* Believers cautioned against giving heed to every one that
pretends to the Spirit. (1-6) Brotherly love enforced. (7-21)
#1-6 Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures,
may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who
set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who
contradict them. The sum of revealed religion is in the doctrine
concerning Christ, his person and office. The false teachers
spake of the world according to its maxims and tastes, so as not
to offend carnal men. The world approved them, they made rapid
progress, and had many followers such as themselves; the world
will love its own, and its own will love it. The true doctrine
as to the Saviour's person, as leading men from the world to
God, is a mark of the spirit of truth in opposition to the
spirit of error. The more pure and holy any doctrine is, the
more likely to be of God; nor can we by any other rules try the
spirits whether they are of God or not. And what wonder is it,
that people of a worldly spirit should cleave to those who are
like themselves, and suit their schemes and discourses to their
corrupt taste?
#7-13 The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not
love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of
God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness.
The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy,
had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the
forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently
with God's glory and justice, shows that God is love. Mystery
and darkness rest upon many things yet. God has so shown himself
to be love, that we cannot come short of eternal happiness,
unless through unbelief and impenitence, although strict justice
would condemn us to hopeless misery, because we break our
Creator's laws. None of our words or thoughts can do justice to
the free, astonishing love of a holy God towards sinners, who
could not profit or harm him, whom he might justly crush in a
moment, and whose deserving of his vengeance was shown in the
method by which they were saved, though he could by his almighty
Word have created other worlds, with more perfect beings, if he
had seen fit. Search we the whole universe for love in its most
glorious displays? It is to be found in the person and the cross
of Christ. Does love exist between God and sinners? Here was the
origin, not that we loved God, but that he freely loved us. His
love could not be designed to be fruitless upon us, and when its
proper end and issue are gained and produced, it may be said to
be perfected. So faith is perfected by its works. Thus it will
appear that God dwells in us by his new-creating Spirit. A
loving Christian is a perfect Christian; set him to any good
duty, and he is perfect to it, he is expert at it. Love oils the
wheels of his affections, and sets him on that which is helpful
to his brethren. A man that goes about a business with ill will,
always does it badly. That God dwells in us and we in him, were
words too high for mortals to use, had not God put them before
us. But how may it be known whether the testimony to this does
proceed from the Holy Ghost? Those who are truly persuaded that
they are the sons of God, cannot but call him Abba, Father. From
love to him, they hate sin, and whatever disagrees with his
will, and they have a sound and hearty desire to do his will.
Such testimony is the testimony of the Holy Ghost.
#14-21 The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this
world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess
that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in
God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the
foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of
God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against
the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a day of
universal judgment. Happy those who shall have holy boldness
before the Judge at that day; knowing he is their Friend and
Advocate! Happy those who have holy boldness in the prospect of
that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's
appearance! True love to God assures believers of God's love to
them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore
we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, #2Ti
2:12|. We must distinguish between the fear of God and being
afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and
veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the
principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who
unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are
like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved
father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly. It
is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts,
fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth
stand amazed at his love. He sent his word to invite sinners to
partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of
the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory.
The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the
Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion. This must
be tried by its effects on their temper, and their conduct to
their brethren. If a man professes to love God, and yet indulges
anger or revenge, or shows a selfish disposition, he gives his
profession the lie. But if it is plain that our natural enmity
is changed into affection and gratitude, let us bless the name
of our God for this seal and earnest of eternal happiness. Then
we differ from the false professors, who pretend to love God,
whom they have not seen, yet hate their brethren, whom they have
seen.