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Selected Verse: 1 John 3:17 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Jo 3:17 |
King James |
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
this world's good--literally, "livelihood" or substance. If we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (Jo1 3:16), how much more ought we not to withhold our substance?
seeth--not merely casually, but deliberately contemplates as a spectator; Greek, "beholds."
shutteth up his bowels of compassion--which had been momentarily opened by the spectacle of his brother's need. The "bowels" mean the heart, the seat of compassion.
how--How is it possible that "the love of (that is, 'to') God dwelleth (Greek, 'abideth') in him?" Our superfluities should yield to the necessities; our comforts, and even our necessaries in some measure, should yield to the extreme wants of our brethren. "Faith gives Christ to me; love flowing from faith gives me to my neighbor." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
But whoso hath this world's good - Has property - called "this world's good," or a good pertaining to this world, because it is of value to us only as it meets our wants this side of the grave; and perhaps also because it is sought supremely by the people of the world. The general meaning of this verse, in connection with the previous verse, is, that if we ought to be willing to lay down our lives for others, we ought to be willing to make those comparatively smaller sacrifices which are necessary to relieve them in their distresses; and that if we are unwilling to do this, we can have no evidence that the love of God dwells in us.
And seeth his brother have need - Need of food, of raiment, of shelter; or sick, and poor, and unable to provide for his own wants and those of his family.
And shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him - The bowels, or "upper viscera," embracing the heart, and the region of the chest generally, are in the Scriptures represented as the seat of mercy, piety, and compassion, because when the mind feels compassion it is that part which is affected. Compare the notes at Isa 16:11.
How dwelleth the love of God in him? - How can a man love God who does not love those who bear his image? See the notes at Jo1 4:20. On the general sentiment here, see the notes at Jam 2:14-16. The meaning is plain, that we cannot have evidence of piety unless we are ready to do good to others, especially to our Christian brethren. See the Mat 25:45 note; Gal 6:10 note. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
This world's good (τὸν βίον τοῦ κόσμου)
Rev., the worlds goods. Βίος means that by which life is sustained, resources, wealth.
Seeth (θεωρῇ)
Deliberately contemplates. See on Joh 1:18. Rev., beholdeth. The only occurrence of the verb in John's Epistles.
Have need (χρείαν ἔχοντα)
Lit., having need. Rev., in need.
Bowels of compassion (τὰ σπλάγχνα)
See on pitiful, Pe1 3:8. Rev., much better, his compassion. The word only here in John. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| But whoso hath this world's good - Worldly substance, far less valuable than life. And seeth his brother have need - The very sight of want knocks at the door of the spectator's heart. And shutteth up - Whether asked or not. His bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him - Certainly not at all, however he may talk, Jo1 3:18, of loving God. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
But whoso hath this worlds good - Here is a test of this love; if we do not divide our bread with the hungry, we certainly would not lay down our life for him. Whatever love we may pretend to mankind, if we are not charitable and benevolent, we give the lie to our profession. If we have not bowels of compassion, we have not the love of God in us; if we shut up our bowels against the poor, we shut Christ out of our hearts, and ourselves out of heaven.
This world's good. - Του βιον του κοσμου· The life of this world, i.e. the means of life; for so βιος is often used. See Mar 12:44; Luk 8:43; Luk 15:12, Luk 15:30; Luk 21:4, and other places.
How dwelleth the love of God in him? - That is, it cannot possibly dwell in such a person. Hardheartedness and God's love never meet together, much less can they be associated. |
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
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?
11 Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.