1 John 4:20

If any one says, "I love God," and yet hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot possibly love God, whom he has not seen.

Montgomery New Testament

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 because He loved us first.

21And we have this command from God. HE WHO LOVES GOD IS TO LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO.

Read all of 1 John 4

Cross References

1 Peter 1:8Him you love, though you have never seen him; in him you ever believe, though even now you see him not, and you are rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory,

1 John 2:4He who says, "I know Him," but does no continue obeying his commandments, is a liar,

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

1 John 4:12No man has ever gazed on God; but if we love one another, God ever 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