1 John 4:20

Whoever says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother is a liar. For if anyone does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

Text-Critical English NT

In The King James Version

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

In Context

19We love him because he first loved us.

21And this is the commandment we have from him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Read all of 1 John 4

Cross References

1 Peter 1:8Although you once did not know him, you love him; although you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with an unspeakable and glorious joy,

1 John 2:4Whoever says, “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1 John 2:11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 4:12No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Matthew Henry on 1 John 4:18-21

The Divine Love. ( a. d. 80.) 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this… Read the whole commentary →

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Study 1 John 4:20