John Calvin Commentary 1 John 5:3

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." — 1 John 5:3 (ASV)

His commandments are not grievous. This has been added so that difficulties, as is usually the case, do not dampen or lessen our zeal. For those who with a cheerful mind and great ardor have pursued a godly and holy life often grow weary afterward, finding their strength inadequate. Therefore John, to rouse our efforts, says that God’s commandments are not grievous.

But it may, on the other hand, be objected that our experience has been far different, and that Scripture testifies that the yoke of the law is insupportable (Acts 15:2). The reason is also evident. Since the denial of self is, as it were, a prelude to keeping the law, can we say that it is easy for a man to deny himself? Indeed, since the law is spiritual, as Paul teaches us in Romans 7:14, and we are nothing but flesh, there must be a great discord between us and the law of God. To this I answer that this difficulty does not arise from the nature of the law but from our corrupt flesh. This is what Paul expressly declares, for after saying that it was impossible for the Law to confer righteousness on us, he immediately places the blame on our flesh.

This explanation fully reconciles what is said by Paul and by David, which apparently seems completely contradictory. Paul makes the law the master of death, declares that it achieves nothing but to bring God’s wrath upon us, that it was given to increase sin, and that it lives in order to kill us.

David, on the other hand, says that it is sweeter than honey and more desirable than gold; and among other recommendations, he mentions the following: that it cheers hearts, converts to the Lord, and quickens. But Paul compares the law with the corrupt nature of man; from this the conflict arises. David, however, shows how those whom God by His Spirit has renewed think and feel; from this comes the sweetness and delight of which the flesh knows nothing.

And John has not omitted this difference, for he confines to God’s children these words, God’s commandments are not grievous, lest anyone take them literally. He intimates that it comes through the power of the Spirit that it is not grievous nor wearisome for us to obey God.

The question, however, does not yet seem to be fully answered. For the faithful, though ruled by the Spirit of God, still carry on a hard contest with their own flesh. However much they may toil, they still hardly perform half their duty. Indeed, they almost fail under their burden, as though they stood, as they say, between the sanctuary and the steep. We see how Paul groaned as one held captive and exclaimed that he was wretched because he could not fully serve God. My reply to this is that the law is said to be easy, insofar as we are endowed with heavenly power and overcome the lusts of the flesh. For however the flesh may resist, the faithful still find that there is no real enjoyment except in following God.

It must further be observed that John does not speak of the law only, which contains nothing but commands, but connects it with the paternal indulgence of God, by which the rigor of the law is mitigated. Since, then, we know that we are graciously forgiven by the Lord when our works do not measure up to the law, this makes us far more ready to obey, according to what we find in Psalm 130:4:

With You is propitiation, that You may be feared.

This, then, is the reason for the ease of keeping the law: because the faithful, being sustained by pardon, do not lose heart when they fall short of what they ought to be. The Apostle, meanwhile, reminds us that we must fight so that we may serve the Lord, for the whole world hinders us from going where the Lord calls us. Thus, only the one who courageously resists the world keeps the law.