Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 3:20

"because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things." — 1 John 3:20 (ASV)

John began this section (2:29–4:6) by addressing the question, How may we be confident and unashamed at Christ’s coming? (cf. 2:28). The answer, expressed in the phrases “continue in Jesus” and “doing what is right” (2:29; 3:7, 10), is tested by our love for our fellow believers. Now the author addresses the question of assurance—i.e., confidence before God. How may “we know that we belong to the truth” (3:19) and how do we deal with our own condemning hearts (3:20–21)? The anxious note in the first part of the question should probably be attributed at least in part to the unrelenting attack of opponents on the “teaching” and “beliefs” of the Christian community. The whole section, however, may also simply be explaining the nature of “fellowship” with the Father (1:3).

This passage allows several translations and interpretations. (1) “This” (v.19) may be taken to point backward to the absolute demand of love introduced in 3:14ff. If we know that we love truly, with actions and not mere words, that knowledge will not only assure us “that we belong to the truth” but will also act to “set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us.” (2) It is also possible to put a period after “presence” and to read v.20 as follows: “If our hearts should condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (3) The best option is to see the “this” in v.19 as pointing both backward and forward. In other words, there are two ways we know that we “belong to the truth”: (a) because we love in deed (vv.14ff.), and (b) because God himself assures us that we belong to the truth—he “is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (v.20b).

What is stressed is agape love, which is always expressed first in deeds and is reassuring evidence that we are of God. Why our hearts should condemn us is not discussed by the author. Apparently it is not important. His readers, like all others, know how easily the conscience can render us ineffective. Doubt, guilt, and failure are never far from any of us. Sometimes our misgivings are the result of our own actions or inactions. Sometimes it is the “accuser” who seizes our weaknesses and shortcomings and so elevates them that we wonder whether we can really be in the truth. What then can we do? We can remember that God understands everything. His word and his truth are greater than our feelings or our conscience. We may rest ourselves in his love for us and live in that love and by that love. We will not excuse ourselves of any sin, but neither will we needlessly accuse ourselves (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:3–5).