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Selected Verse: 1 John 5:3 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Jo 5:3 |
King James |
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. |
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 is--the love of God consists in this.
not grievous--as so many think them. It is "the way of the transgressor" that "is hard." What makes them to the regenerate "not grievous," is faith which "overcometh the world" (Jo1 5:4): in proportion as faith is strong, the grievousness of God's commandments to the rebellious flesh is overcome. The reason why believers feel any degree of irksomeness in God's commandments is, they do not realize fully by faith the privileges of their spiritual life. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments - This constitutes true love; this furnishes the evidence of it.
And his commandments are not grievous - Greek, "heavy" - βαρεῖαι bareiai; that is, difficult to be borne as a burden. See Mat 11:30. The meaning is, that his laws are not unreasonable; the duties which he requires are not beyond our ability; his government is not oppressive. It is easy to obey God when the heart is right; and those who endeavor in sincerity to keep his commandments do not complain that they are hard. All complaints of this kind come from those who are not disposed to keep his commandments. Indeed, they object that his laws are unreasonable; that they impose improper restraints; that they are not easily complied with; and that the divine government is one of severity and injustice. But no such complaints come from true Christians. They find his service easier than the service of sin, and the laws of God more mild and easy to be complied with than were those of fashion and honor, which they once endeavored to obey. The service of God is freedom; the service of the world is bondage. No man ever yet heard a true Christian say that the laws of God, requiring him to lead a holy life, were stern and "grievous." But who has not felt this in regard to the inexorable laws of sin? What votary of the world would not say this if he spoke his real sentiments? Compare the notes at Joh 8:32. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Grievous (βαρεῖαι)
Lit., heavy. The word occurs six times in the New Testament. Act 20:29, violent, rapacious; "grievous wolves": Co2 10:10, weighty, impressive, of Paul's letters: Mat 23:23; Act 25:7, important, serious; the weightier matters of the law; serious charges against Paul. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
For this is the love of God - The only sure proof of it. That we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous - To any that are born of God. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
For this is the love of God - This the love of God necessarily produces. It is vain to pretend love to God while we live in opposition to his will.
His commandments - To love him with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves, are not grievous - are not burdensome; for no man is burdened with the duties which his own love imposes. The old proverb explains the meaning of the apostle's words, Love feels no loads. Love to God brings strength from God; through his love and his strength, all his commandments are not only easy and light, but pleasant and delightful.
On the love of God, as being the foundation of all religious worship, there is a good saying in Sohar Exod., fol. 23, col. 91: "Rabbi Jesa said, how necessary is it that a man should love the holy blessed God! For he can bring no other worship to God than love; and whoever loves him, and worships him from a principle of love, him the holy blessed God calls his beloved." |
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.