1 John 2:9

9 He that sayth how that he is in the light and yet hateth his brother is in darknes even vntyll this tyme.

1 John 2:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 2:9

He that saith he is in the light
Is in Christ the light, or has the true knowledge of the light of the Gospel, or is illuminated by the Spirit of God; for persons may profess to be enlightened ones, and not be so: wherefore the apostle does not say, he that is in the light, but he that says he is,

and hateth his brother;
who is so either by creation, as all men are brethren, having one Father, that has made them, and brought them up; or by regeneration, being born of God the Father, and in the same family and household of faith; and so regards such who are in a spiritual relation, whom to hate internally, or not to love, is inconsistent with being in the light, or having faith, which is always naturally and necessarily accompanied with the heat of love; for as light and heat, so faith and love go together: wherefore, let a man's profession of light be what it will, if love to his brother is wanting, he

is in darkness even until now;
he is in a state of nature and unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness and ignorance; he is under the power of darkness, and in the kingdom of Satan; who is the ruler of the darkness of this world; he ever was so from his birth; he never was called nor delivered out of it, but is still in it to this moment, and so remains. This seems to be very much levelled against the Jews, who make hatred of the brother in some cases lawful: for they say ^F4,

``if one man observes sin in another, and reproves him for it, and he does not receive his reproof, (wtwanvl rtwm) , "it is lawful to hate him";''

(See Gill on Matthew 5:43).

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora, pr. neg. 5.

1 John 2:9 In-Context

7 Brethren I write no newe comaundement vnto you: but that olde comaundemet which ye hearde from the begynnynge.

8 The olde comaundement is the worde which ye hearde from the begynnynge. Agayne a newe comaundement I write vnto you a thynge that is true in him and also in you: for the darknes is past and the true lyght now shyneth.

9 He that sayth how that he is in the light and yet hateth his brother is in darknes even vntyll this tyme.

10 He that loveth his brother abydeth in the light and ther is none occasion of evyll in him.

11 He that hateth his brother is in darknes and walketh in darknes: and cannot tell whither he goeth because that darknes hath blynded his eyes.