2:111 John 2:11

To hate a brother is to be in darkness and to walk in darkness, blinded by that darkness so as not to know where one is going.RH Mar 8, 1906+2 Claiming to be in the light while hating a brother proves one is still in darkness, while loving a brother is abiding in the light where there is no cause for stumbling.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+2 How a person treats brethren reveals the attitude toward God, for love for fellow believers is evidence of acceptance in Christ and of having passed from death to life.Lt 84, 1894, par. 12–15+2 That hatred is not only open hate, but includes feeling against a brother when ideas conflict, refusal to harmonize, bitterness mistaken for zeal for God, dwelling on faults with unkind criticism and suspicion, and exalting self while disparaging others.16MR 104.2–105.2+4 Such cherishing of evil blinds spiritual understanding and shuts out the light, so it must be put away by confessing personal sin, forsaking envy and evil thinking, and walking as Christ walked in pity and unselfish love.Ms 115, 1905, par. 7–9+3

To hate one's brother is to be in darkness, and to walk in darkness, not knowing where one is going, because that darkness has blinded the eyes.RH Mar 8, 1906+4 Hatred leaves a person living in spiritual darkness without the light and direction that belong to love, unable to see where life and the way are leading.RH Mar 8, 1906+3 Failure to put away personal sins and selfishness likewise brings stumbling in darkness, and shows that the heart needs cleansing and transformation lest serious mistakes lead others astray.RH Mar 8, 1906+1

The verse completes John's chain of teaching that believers are written to that they sin not, with Jesus Christ the righteous as advocate and propitiation for the sins of the whole world.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+1 Knowing Him is shown by keeping His commandments and keeping His word, with the love of God perfected, and abiding in Him requires walking even as He walked.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+2 The old commandment heard from the beginning is made new and is true in Him and in believers, because the darkness is past and the true light now shines, with sins forgiven for His name's sake.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+3 The chapter belongs to the instruction on Christian fellowship and love to be read and studied in the last days, continuing the message that God is light and carrying forward the call to walk in the light in fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.Ms 148, 1903, par. 12–18+1 That walk is in the knowledge of the truth and partaking of the divine nature, with singleness of purpose in the short time to work, seeking the wisdom that comes from Christ who is sanctification and righteousness, and walking humbly with God without crowding the mind with many things that hide the plain requirements of the Lord.Lt 116, 1910, par. 2–6

To claim to be in the light while hating a brother proves false, for such a one is in darkness even until now.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+3 By contrast, to love one's brother is to abide in the light, where there is no occasion or cause of stumbling.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+4 Hating brethren because they will not follow one's leading is being at variance and is this very darkness, while loving keeps the great commandment of love and follows Christ as the light of the world with the light of life.Ms 34, 1900, par. 7–10 The call to walk even as Christ walked is a call to walk in pity, tenderness, and compassion.Ms 52, 1904, par. 33–38

The love commanded is the old commandment heard from the beginning, yet called new because the disciples had not yet loved one another as Christ loved them and had not yet seen the fullness of the love He was to reveal.Ms 56, 1905, par. 16–17+2 They were yet to see Him dying on the cross for their sins, and through His life and death they were to receive a new conception of love.Ms 120, 1903, par. 17–19 The command to love one another was to gain a new meaning in the light of His self-sacrifice, and in the light shining from the cross of Calvary is to be read the meaning of loving as He loved.Ms 120, 1903, par. 17–19+1 By this love all men know His disciples.Ms 120, 1903, par. 17–19+1

How a person treats brethren reveals the attitude toward God and whether the person really loves Jesus.Lt 84, 1894, par. 12–15+1 Love for fellow believers is evidence of acceptance in Christ, of being accepted in the Beloved, and of having passed from death to life.Lt 84, 1894, par. 12–15+1 One who hates proves he is not a branch of the divine Root and does not partake of the divine nature, cannot love those for whom Christ gave His life, and dishonors Christ.Ms 51, 1894, par. 8–11 Hatred shapes character, blinds spiritual understanding, and leaves the person unable to recognize where choices lead, in darkness, walking in darkness, blinded so as not to know where he is going, the opposite of loving a brother and abiding in light with no cause for stumbling.Lt 84, 1894, par. 12–15+1

Cherished hatred of heart that has strengthened until it has become part of character, with all envy, evil surmising and evil thinking, must be put away for a different experience.Ms 51, 1894, par. 8–11 A cherished spirit of hatred must be changed to share in the latter rain, for the church as a whole will never receive the latter rain without it.Lt 84, 1894, par. 12–15+1 With the verses around it, the verse plainly depicts the characteristics that mark those who have become members of the Lord's family, for true conversion always manifests itself in the character of the converted one.Lt 144, 1907, par. 4–5

Faith unto eternal life is impossible without Christlike love for brethren, and a loveless Christian does not exist because God is love.21MR 411.4 Christians love those around them as precious souls for whom Christ died.21MR 411.4 Loving God and neighbor with Christlike love is being filled with light and love with God in and around a person, while hating a brother is being in darkness and blindness.21MR 411.4 Spiritual blindness is upon every soul in which Christ does not abide.Lt 65, 1897, par. 23

Unless corrected, the natural tendency of man prevails, as in the case of Judas, in deceiving and being deceived until the close of time, and only the renewing of the mind transforms character and removes that blindness.Lt 65, 1897, par. 23 Failing to love a brother leaves a person in darkness, walking bewildered without knowing where to go because darkness has blinded the eyes.Ms 17, 1894, par. 31–32 There is a distinction between brethren and the world: those without the truth must be loved, but those connected with Jesus Christ, the household of faith, must be loved by most sacred obligation, helped and blessed in every way, jealously guarded, and walked with in perfect harmony.Ms 17, 1894, par. 31–32 Condemning and reproving a brother or sister violates the verse and endangers the soul, while loving brethren works in harmony with Jesus Christ, glorifies Him, and purifies the soul.Ms 17, 1894, par. 31–32

Hatred is not only open hatred but feeling against a brother when his ideas conflict with one's own, letting feelings rise that have no kinship with love, showing no disposition to harmonize, and being as ready to be at swords' point with him as not.16MR 104.2–105.2+1 It includes hating brethren because they will not follow one's leading, which is being at variance and in darkness.Ms 34, 1900, par. 7–10 It includes bitterness of feeling toward brethren while thinking it is zeal for God, by those who understand their own hearts very little.16MR 104.2–105.2+1

Hatred appears as a hard spirit producing evil thoughts, evil speaking, evil doings, hard speeches and bitter words against brethren, even against those more righteous than oneself.Lt 64, 1888, par. 24–25 It appears as exalting self and disparaging others.Lt 368, 1904, par. 14–15 It appears as dwelling on others' faults and criticizing them with unkind criticism, suspicion, and condemnation until brotherly love is lost.AA 548.1+2 Those in this loss may not recognize what has been lost, that joy is fading, that God's love is being shut out of the heart, or what darkness is being entered.AA 548.1+2

Hatred appears as crowding and pushing another because he does not see alike, thinking unkindly of brethren, climbing upon the judgment seat to censure or condemn them, and using a position of responsibility to exercise oppressive power over consciences.Lt 21, 1888, par. 25–27 It appears as treating fellow believers with ridicule, misrepresentation, and condemnation, instead of Christlike courtesy and love even when they differ in belief.12MR 374.3–376.1+1 It appears as attacking God's commandment-keeping people because they believe the Word just as it reads and their life condemns the attackers, by wrestling the Scriptures to suit disobedience, walking contrary to the commandments, refusing to obey the Word, and reproaching God's messengers sent to show sin.Ms 33, 1900, par. 25–29

Gathering up suspicions, reports, and mistakes to accuse a brother and stone him to death to save reputation and life is this hatred and walking in darkness with blinded eyes as to where such a course leads.Ms 2, 1880, par. 1–6 Under that course Christ is not enthroned in the heart, and the work done is the work of Satan as accuser of the brethren rather than the higher calling God gives.Ms 2, 1880, par. 1–6 The verse does not forbid addressing wrongdoing but forbids fault-finding, for wrongdoing should be addressed directly, in Christlike meekness, with truth and reproof that may save the person, rather than concealed in a way that leaves him unaware of his fault.RH Jul 20, 1905 Continuing to hate or hold prejudice against a brother in unjust estrangement from him is to be in spiritual darkness, a grievous and harmful course.Lt 311b, 1906, par. 12+1 Such bitterness can lead someone to use influence against needed work and imperil God's cause.Lt 311b, 1906, par. 12

Persistently cherishing evil while disregarding divine love brings spiritual blindness, so that love for good and desire for God are lost and the capacity to receive heaven's light is gone, and though the light and invitation of mercy may still shine the blinded one can neither hear nor see them. Hatred shapes character, blinds spiritual understanding, hinders sound judgment, and leaves the hater unable to recognize where choices are leading, without the light and direction that belong to loving a brother and abiding in the light.Ms 115, 1905, par. 7–9+1 Such selfishness and failure to love show a heart needing cleansing and transformation.Ms 115, 1905, par. 7–9

One who hates his brother is not under the control of the Spirit of God and does not know what spirit he is of, for the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness have never shone into the heart and chambers of the mind, making any claim to be in the light false.Lt 64, 1888, par. 24–25+1 The love the verse requires does not compromise with sin but proceeds from a heart loving God supremely and neighbor as self, revealing the love of God in love to brethren.Ms 41, 1890, par. 20–24 Failing to put away personal sins and selfishness likewise leaves one stumbling in darkness, hindering sound judgment and leading to serious mistakes that may lead others astray.RH Mar 8, 1906+2 Each person young or old must therefore deal faithfully with personal sins and put them away.Ms 23, 1906, par. 17

Losing brotherly love by dwelling on others' faults with criticism, suspicion and condemnation shuts love out of the heart and shuts God's love out, even while the person may not recognize what has been lost, that joy is fading, or what darkness is being entered.AA 548.1+2 That blindness keeps those claiming to believe the truth from understanding their own hearts and from seeing that a brother may be bearing a message from God with just the light needed for this time.16MR 104.2–105.2+1 Satan impresses the mind and stirs the passions to unite them with evil against a special message, leading them step after step in the false way on a long journey while believing their bitterness is right, acting on the same principles he adopted in his disaffection in heaven.16MR 104.2–105.2 When prejudice bars mind and heart against truth, the most precious things appear in distorted light, and hearers look through prejudice and passion, feel too indignant to search the Scriptures in a Christlike spirit, and repudiate the whole matter because points are presented that are not in accordance with their own ideas.16MR 104.2–105.2

Harboring hatred and unjust accusations is displeasing to God and brings present and eternal injury, requiring a change of spirit to stand acquitted before God.Lt 391, 1906, par. 15–16 People in error under the delusion of Satan who has blinded them are in a pitiable moral condition, walking without knowing where they are going.Lt 28, 1886, par. 4 Christ is the light of the world, and His followers gather light from Him so they can meet those in darkness where they are and let God's light flash upon their pathway.Lt 28, 1886, par. 4

Cherished hatred of heart that has strengthened until it has become part of character, with all envy, evil surmising and evil thinking, must be put away for a different experience.Ms 51, 1894, par. 8–11 Grievances are to be settled not by charging guilt upon others but by confessing one's own sins, and the hard spirit that produces evil thoughts, evil speaking, evil doings, hard speeches and bitter words even against those more righteous than oneself is to be put away now.Ms 51, 1894, par. 8–11+1 The call is to criticize self instead of others, to confess and forsake own sins, and to set the heart in order.Lt 64, 1888, par. 24–25+1

This diligent work of repentance cleanses souls that are in peril from sin.Lt 368, 1904, par. 14–15 It is the work that must be done in the great day of atonement to be ready for the Lord's appearing, with not a moment to lose.Lt 368, 1904, par. 14–15 Each person, young or old, must deal faithfully with personal sins and put them away, for hatred of a brother leaves a person in darkness, hinders sound judgment, and makes him stumble into serious mistakes that may also lead others astray.Lt 368, 1904, par. 14–15+1

A cherished spirit of hatred must be changed to share in the latter rain and to stand acquitted before God, for it shapes character, blinds spiritual understanding, and leaves the person unable to recognize where choices lead.Lt 84, 1894, par. 12–15 The church as a whole will never receive the latter rain without putting away such hatred.Ms 51, 1894, par. 8–11 Hatred is incompatible with living in the light, which is why believers must seek unity and resist conduct that creates dissension.Lt 336, 1906, par. 27–29

Christlike courtesy and love are required even when fellow believers differ in belief, with no ridicule, misrepresentation, or condemnation.12MR 374.3–376.1 A Christian must not crowd and push another because he does not see alike, must not think unkindly of brethren, climb upon the judgment seat to censure or condemn them, or use a position of responsibility to exercise oppressive power over consciences, but must show a forbearing, courteous, Christlike spirit, respect the rights of all, and be like-minded with God.Lt 21, 1888, par. 25–27 Bible Christians must have as great an interest for a brother workman as for themselves, keeping hearts kind and tender to one another in the all-absorbing work of giving the bread of life to souls ready to perish, cultivating true Christian courtesy and educating mind and heart by deeds of thoughtful kindness to have an unselfish interest in every laborer.Ms 13a, 1891, par. 35–37

This chapter belongs to the instruction on Christian fellowship and love to be read and studied in the last days.Ms 148, 1903, par. 12–18 It calls for keeping the first love and having the love of Christ in the heart, since presentation of beautiful theories is worthless without that love, and loss of that love is loss of all things.Ms 148, 1903, par. 12–18 There is no sanction for lack of love, and the lesson is to lean only on God every day and every hour whether skies are clear or tempests lower.Ms 237, 1902, par. 11

The call is to walk even as Christ walked in pity, tenderness, and compassion.Ms 52, 1904, par. 33–38 Love for brethren is the old commandment heard from the beginning, made new and true because the darkness is past and the true light now shines, to be cherished in the simplicity received from Christ without seeking new and strange teaching from human lips.Ms 52, 1904, par. 33–38+1 It was called new because the disciples had not yet loved one another as Christ loved them and had not yet seen the fullness of the love He was to reveal in dying on the cross for their sins, and in the light shining from the cross is to be read the meaning of loving as He loved, by which all know His disciples.Ms 120, 1903, par. 17–19 Following His example of unselfish service, trusting like little children in His merits, and obeying His commands brings the approval of God, Christ abiding in the heart, and an influence fragrant with His righteousness.Ms 120, 1903, par. 17–19 Keeping the great commandment of love, following Christ as the light of the world and having the light of life, reveals living union with Christ and with brethren in Christian love and fellowship, works in harmony with Jesus Christ, glorifies Him, and purifies the soul.Ms 34, 1900, par. 7–10+1