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Easter · Fourth Sunday of Easter · Year B

1 John 3:16-24

Love One Another

April 18, 2027

Saint Martin Dividing his Cloak, Anthony van Dyck
Saint Martin Dividing his Cloak, Anthony van Dyck, c. 1618Saint Martin's Church, Zaventem
Painted for the church in the village where Van Dyck was staying, and still there. Martin cuts the cloak from horseback while two beggars wait below.How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.Anthony van DyckA Flemish prodigy who worked in Rubens's studio as a teenager and went on to invent the look of English aristocratic portraiture.Saint Martin's Church, ZaventemA village church outside Brussels which still holds the altarpiece Van Dyck painted while staying there.Saint Martin's Church, Zaventem
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelJohn 10:11-18Jn 10:11-18
Epistle1 John 3:16-241 Jn 3:16-24
Old TestamentActs 4:1-12
PsalterPs. 23Ps 23

Overview & Insights

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16)

Verses 11–18 are unified by the theme of loving one another. Love among the members of the community was first raised in 1 John 2:10 (as love for one’s “brother” or sister) and was the link into this section of the letter in 3:10b. The background to this emphasis on love is the schism which has divided the community (1 John 2:19) and has set former community members against one another. The schismatics have shown a flagrant, Cain-like disregard for their fellow believers. The Elder is greatly concerned that there be sacrificial, practical love among the remaining Johannine Christians.

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Take it further: 1 John 3:16-24

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on 1 John 3:16-24Working Preacher: Commentary on 1 Jn 3:16-24 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary on laying down our lives and loving in truth and action.

1 John 3:16-24 Commentary1 Jn 3:16-24 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed reading of God's self giving love as the pattern for our love.

Enduring Word: 1 John 3 Bible CommentaryEnduring Word: 1 Jn 3 Bible Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical exposition of love shown in deed and truth.

BibleHub: 1 John 3:16 CommentariesBibleHub: 1 Jn 3:16 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators gathered on knowing love because Christ laid down his life.

Precept Austin: 1 John 3:16 CommentaryPrecept Austin: 1 Jn 3:16 Commentary Precept Austin

In depth word study and cross references on the verse that defines love.

Background & Word Study

BibleHub: 1 John 3:16 InterlinearBibleHub: 1 Jn 3:16 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear for agape and the abiding language of the passage.

BibleProject: Books of 1-3 John OverviewBibleProject: Books of 1-3 Jn Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of John's letters and their theme of love and truth.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Church Fathers on 1 John 3Catena: Church Fathers on 1 Jn 3 Catena

Patristic comment on love in action and confidence before God.

Questions preachers ask

How does John define love?

Love is not word or talk but deed and truth; the one who has the world's goods and shuts his heart against a brother in need has no love of God abiding in him.

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