Matthew Henry Commentary 1 John 2

We have an Advocate with the Father; one who has undertaken, and is fully able, to plead on behalf of everyone who applies for pardon and salvation in his name, depending on his pleading for them. He is Jesus, the Saviour, and Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed. He alone is the Righteous One, who received his nature pure from sin, and as our Surety perfectly obeyed the law of God, and so fulfilled all righteousness.

All people, in every land, and through successive generations, are invited to come to God through this all-sufficient atonement, and by this new and living way. The gospel, when rightly understood and received, sets the heart against all sin, and stops the allowed practice of it; at the same time, it gives blessed relief to the wounded consciences of those who have sinned.

What knowledge of Christ can that be which does not see that He is most worthy of our entire obedience? A disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professing Christian. The love of God is perfected in the one who keeps His commandments. God's grace in such a person attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as possible in this world, and this is human regeneration; though it is never absolutely perfect here.

Yet, observing Christ's commands has a holiness and excellence that, if universal, would make the earth resemble heaven itself. The command to love one another had been in force since the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new for them, as their situation was new regarding its motives, rules, and obligations.

And those who walk in hatred and enmity toward believers remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to value our brother's soul and to dread everything hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, the mind, judgment, and conscience will be darkened and will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious self-examination; and earnest prayer that God would show us what we are and where we are going.

As Christians have their distinct conditions, so they have specific duties; but there are commands and obedience required of all, particularly mutual love and contempt of the world. The youngest sincere disciple is pardoned: the communion of saints is accompanied by the forgiveness of sins. Those who have been in Christ's school the longest need further advice and instruction.

Even fathers must be written to and preached to; none are too old to learn. But this is especially true for young men in Christ Jesus, even though they have attained spiritual strength and sound judgment, and have successfully resisted initial trials and temptations, breaking off bad habits and associations, and entered in at the strait gate of true conversion. The different categories of Christians are again addressed.

Children in Christ know that God is their Father; this is wisdom. Those mature believers, who know Him who was from the beginning, before this world was made, may well be led by this knowledge to give up this world. It will be the glory of young people to be strong in Christ and in His grace.

By the word of God they overcome the wicked one.

The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes that God intended, and they are to be used by His grace, and for His glory; but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays. The things of the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations of depraved nature.

1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that excite and inflame sensual pleasures.
2. The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is the lust of covetousness.
3. The pride of life: a vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after honour and applause.

The things of the world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will before long fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that passes away. The love of God shall never fail.

Many vain efforts have been made to evade the force of this passage by limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to show how far we may be carnally-minded and love the world; but the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken.

Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the god and prince of it.

Every person is an antichrist who denies the Person, or any of the offices of Christ; and in denying the Son, they deny the Father also, and have no part in His favor while they reject His great salvation. Let this prophecy, that seducers would rise in the Christian world, keep us from being seduced. The church does not know well who its true members are and who are not; but in this way, true Christians were tested and made more watchful and humble.

True Christians are anointed ones; their name expresses this: they are anointed with grace, with gifts and spiritual privileges, by the Holy Spirit of grace. The great and most hurtful lies that the father of lies spreads in the world are usually falsehoods and errors relating to the person of Christ. The anointing from the Holy One, alone, can keep us from delusions. While we judge favorably of all who trust in Christ as the Divine Savior, obey His word, and seek to live in union with them, let us pity and pray for those who deny the Godhead of Christ, or His atonement, and the new-creating work of the Holy Spirit. Let us protest against such antichristian doctrine and keep from them as much as we can.