AN OLD COMMANDMENT MADE NEW

Passage: 1 John 2:7-11

Key verse: 10

NIV

7 Dear friends,(A) I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.(B) This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command;(C) its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing(D) and the true light(E) is already shining.(F)

9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[a](G) is still in the darkness.(H) 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[b] lives in the light,(I) and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.(J) 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister(K) is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.(L) They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.(M)

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Footnotes
  1. 1 John 2:9 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15, 17; 4:20; 5:16.
  2. 1 John 2:10 The Greek word for brother and sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in 3:10; 4:20, 21.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The New Commandment

7 Beloved, I am writing you (A)no new commandment, but (B)an old commandment (C)that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is (D)a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] (E)the darkness is passing away and (F)the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and (G)hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no (H)cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and (I)walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 John 2:8 Or that
  2. 1 John 2:10 Or it
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The old command made new (7-8)

Jesus summed up the Law and the Prophets in two words: Love God and love your neighbor (Dt 6:5; Lev 19:18; Mt 22:37-39). Jesus told his disciples, 'A new command I give you: Love one another.' Jesus commanded us to love, and he also showed us how. We can see the truth of his command in his life. When we obey his command, its truth is seen in us too. Jesus came into a dark and hate-filled world as God's gift of love. He is the true light shining in the darkness.

2. Walk in his light (9-11)

How can we live in Jesus' light? By loving our brothers. In other places we are commanded to love our neighbors and to love our enemies. Here, we are told to love our brothers. It is hard to love those close to us. Sometimes it's hardest to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. For this reason there are many divisions in the Christian community. But if we hate our brothers, we are still living in darkness.

Prayer: Lord, I can't love others in my own strength. Come and dwell in me. Help me to love others with your love.

One Word: Love others; walk in Jesus' light