Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 John 4:21

"And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also." — 1 John 4:21 (ASV)

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also.

Now let us read what another apostle has to say, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, upon this subject of Christian love.

Turn to Philippians 4.

That he who loveth God love his brother also.

O lovers of God, prove the reality of your affection for him by the genuineness of your love for your fellow human beings!

And this commandment have we from him,—

That is, from the Lord Jesus, who again and again gave this commandment to his disciples.

For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

This is that "new commandment" which our Lord gave to His apostles, and through them to His whole church. That ye love one another as I have loved you. John was, in a special sense, "that disciple whom Jesus loved." It was fitting, therefore, that he should be the apostle to be inspired by the Holy Spirit to bring "this commandment" to the remembrance of any who had forgotten it.

This commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. God help us to do so, of His great grace!

Amen.