1 John 3:17
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
If anyone has material possessions
The phrase "material possessions" refers to the goods and resources that one owns. In the Greek, the word used is "βίος" (bios), which can mean life or livelihood, indicating not just wealth but the means of living. Historically, the early Christian community was known for its radical sharing of resources, as seen in Acts 2:44-45, where believers had all things in common. This phrase challenges believers to view their possessions not as personal entitlements but as resources entrusted by God for the benefit of others.

and sees his brother in need
The word "sees" (θεωρέω, theōreō) implies more than a casual glance; it suggests a careful observation and understanding of the situation. The term "brother" (ἀδελφός, adelphos) is often used in the New Testament to denote fellow believers, emphasizing the familial bond within the Christian community. This phrase calls for an awareness and sensitivity to the needs of others, reflecting the interconnectedness of the body of Christ.

but has no pity on him
The phrase "has no pity" translates the Greek "κλείσῃ τὰ σπλάγχνα" (kleisē ta splanchna), which literally means "closes his heart." The term "σπλάγχνα" (splanchna) refers to the inward parts, often associated with compassion and mercy. In the ancient world, the heart and bowels were seen as the seat of emotions. This phrase highlights the moral and spiritual failure of withholding compassion, which is contrary to the nature of God’s love.

how can the love of God abide in him?
The rhetorical question posed here is a profound challenge. The "love of God" (ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ, agapē tou Theou) is the selfless, sacrificial love that God demonstrates and expects His followers to emulate. The word "abide" (μένει, menei) suggests a continual, living presence. This phrase underscores the essential truth that genuine faith is evidenced by love in action. It calls believers to self-examination, questioning whether God's love truly dwells within them if they fail to act compassionately.

Persons / Places / Events
1. John the Apostle
The author of 1 John, one of Jesus' original twelve disciples, known for his close relationship with Jesus and his emphasis on love and truth in his writings.

2. Early Christian Community
The audience of John's letter, likely composed of believers facing challenges in living out their faith in a tangible way amidst societal pressures.

3. Brother in Need
Represents fellow believers or anyone within the community who is experiencing material or emotional lack.
Teaching Points
The Test of Genuine Love
True Christian love is demonstrated through action, not just words. If we claim to have God's love, it should manifest in our willingness to help those in need.

The Role of Earthly Possessions
Earthly possessions are tools given by God to be used for His glory and the benefit of others. We are stewards, not owners, of what we have.

Compassion as a Reflection of God's Love
Withholding compassion from those in need questions the authenticity of God's love in us. Our compassion should mirror the selfless love of Christ.

The Community of Believers
The early church was characterized by sharing and meeting each other's needs. This model serves as a blueprint for how modern believers should care for one another.

The Heart of Generosity
Generosity is not just about the act of giving but the heart behind it. A heart transformed by God's love will naturally overflow with generosity.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does 1 John 3:17 challenge your current perspective on material possessions and their purpose?

2. In what ways can you practically demonstrate God's love to someone in need within your community this week?

3. Reflect on a time when you withheld compassion. What were the reasons, and how might understanding this verse change your response in the future?

4. How do the teachings in James 2:15-16 and Matthew 25:35-40 complement the message of 1 John 3:17?

5. What steps can your church or small group take to ensure that the needs of its members and the surrounding community are being met?
Connections to Other Scriptures
James 2:15-16
This passage emphasizes the importance of faith being accompanied by action, particularly in providing for the physical needs of others.

Matthew 25:35-40
Jesus teaches about serving "the least of these," highlighting that acts of compassion towards others are acts of service to Him.

Proverbs 19:17
This verse underscores the principle that kindness to the poor is akin to lending to the Lord, who will repay such generosity.
The Sign of Brotherly LoveR. Finlayson 1 John 3:13-24
Lofty Ideals Perilous Unless AppliedBp. Wm. Alexander.1 John 3:16-18
The Exhibition and Obligation of True LoveW. Jones 1 John 3:16-18
The Sacrifice of LoveLyman Abbott, D. D.1 John 3:16-18
Charity in Deed Better than in ThoughtC. H. Spurgeon.1 John 3:17-21
Charity to the PoorH. Stebbing, D. D.1 John 3:17-21
Deceptive FriendlinessR. Abercrombie, M. A.1 John 3:17-21
On Christian BeneficenceJohn Smyth, D. D.1 John 3:17-21
Righteousness Essential to the Answer of a Good Conscience in Ourselves and Before GodR. S. Candlish, D. D.1 John 3:17-21
Shutting Up CompassionW. Brock.1 John 3:17-21
The Duty of Charitable DistributionJohn Brown, D. D.1 John 3:17-21
People
Cain, John
Places
Ephesus
Topics
Abide, Abides, Anyone, Beholdeth, Bowels, Brother, Closes, Compassion, Continue, Dwelleth, God's, Goods, Hardens, Heart, Keeps, Love, Material, Pity, Possessions, Possible, Sees, Shut, Shutteth, Substance, View, Wealth, World's, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 John 3:17

     5013   heart, divine
     5191   thought
     5448   poverty, attitudes to
     5449   poverty, remedies
     5809   compassion, human
     5972   unkindness
     6178   hardness of heart
     6662   freedom, abuse
     8436   giving, of possessions
     8775   libertinism
     8780   materialism, and sin
     8811   riches, attitudes to

1 John 3:11-21

     5017   heart, renewal

1 John 3:14-20

     8105   assurance, basis of

1 John 3:16-17

     5932   response
     8298   love, for one another

1 John 3:16-18

     8262   generosity, human
     8481   self-sacrifice

1 John 3:17-18

     5476   property

Library
The Purifying Hope
Eversley, 1869. Windsor Castle, 1869. 1 John iii. 2. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." Let us consider this noble text, and see something, at least, of what it has to tell us. It is, like all God's messages, all God's laws, ay, like God's world in which we live and breathe,
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

Second Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to Brotherly Love.
Text: 1 John 3, 13-18. 13 Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Growth and Power of Sin
'And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering: But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Love that Calls us Sons
'Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God....'--1 John iii. 1. One or two points of an expository character will serve to introduce what else I have to say on these words. The text is, I suppose, generally understood as if it pointed to the fact that we are called the sons of God as the great exemplification of the wonderfulness of His love. That is a perfectly possible view of the connection and meaning of the text. But if we are to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Unrevealed Future of the Sons of God
'Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.'--1 John iii. 2. I have hesitated, as you may well believe, whether I should take these words for a text. They seem so far to surpass anything that can be said concerning them, and they cover such immense fields of dim thought, that one may well be afraid lest one should spoil them by even attempting to dilate on them. And
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Purifying Influence of Hope
'And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.'--1 John iii. 3. That is a very remarkable 'and' with which this verse begins. The Apostle has just been touching the very heights of devout contemplation, soaring away up into dim regions where it is very hard to follow,--'We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.' And now, without a pause, and linking his thoughts together by a simple 'and,' he passes from the unimaginable splendours of the Beatific Vision
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Practical Righteousness
Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.'--1 John iii. 7. The popular idea of the Apostle John is strangely unlike the real man. He is supposed to be the gentle Apostle of Love, the mystic amongst the Twelve. He is that, but he was the 'son of thunder' before he was the Apostle of Love, and he did not drop the first character when he attained the second. No doubt his central thought was, 'God is Love'; no doubt that thought had
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Meaning of Sin, and the Revelation of the True Self
"In this we have come to know what love is, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."--1 JOHN III. 16. It is important that we should arrive at some clearer understanding of the nature of sin. Let us approach the question from the side of the Divine Indwelling. The doctrine of the Divine Immanence, in things and in persons, that doctrine which we are to-day slowly recovering, is rescued from pantheism by holding fast at the same time to the Christian
J. H. Beibitz—Gloria Crucis

How to Fertilize Love
Love is the greatest thing in earth or heaven. Out of it flows most of the things that are worth while in life. Love of relatives, love of friends, and love of the brethren (1 John 3: 14) make life worth living. There is no heart so empty as the heart that is without love. There is no life so joyful as the love-filled life. Love puts a song in the heart, a sparkle in the eye, a smile on the lips, and makes the whole being glad. And God's love is greater than all else. He who has God's love has a
Charles Wesley Naylor—Heart Talks

Vanity of Human Glory.
"The world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not."--1 John iii. 1 Of St. Simon and St. Jude, the Saints whom we this day commemorate, little is known[1]. St. Jude, indeed, still lives in the Church in his Catholic epistle; but of his history we only know that he was brother to St. James the Less, and nearly related to our Lord and that, like St. Peter, he had been a married man. Besides his name of Jude or Judas, he is also called Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus in the Gospels. Of St. Simon we only
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The First Fruits of the Spirit
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:1 1. By "them which are in Christ Jesus," St. Paul evidently means, those who truly believe in him; those who, "being justified by faith, have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." They who thus believe do no longer "walk after the flesh," no longer follow the motions of corrupt nature, but "after the Spirit"; both their thoughts, words, and works are under
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The End of Christ's Coming
"For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8. 1. Many eminent writers, heathen as well as Christian, both in earlier and later ages, have employed their utmost labour and art in painting the beauty of virtue. And the same pains they have taken to describe, in the liveliest colours, the deformity of vice; both of vice in general, and of those particular vices which were most prevalent in their respective ages and countries. With equal care
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Great Privilege of those that are Born of God
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." 1 John 3:9. 1. It has been frequently supposed, that the being born of God was all one with the being justified; that the new birth and justification were only different expressions, denoting the same thing: It being certain, on the one hand, that whoever is justified is also born of God; and, on the other, that whoever is born of God is also justified; yea, that both these gifts of God are given to every believer in one and the same moment. In one
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Beatific vision
"Millions of years my wondering eyes Shall o'er thy beauties rove; And endless ages I'll adore The glories of thy love." We are rejoiced to find such a verse as this, for it tells us that our curiosity shall be satisfied, our desire consummated, our bliss perfected. "WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS." Heaven shall be ours, and all we ever dreamed of him shall be more than in our possession. By the help of God's mighty Spirit, who alone can put words in our mouths, let us speak first of all concerning the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

A Present Religion
It is astonishing how distance blunts the keen edge of anything that is disagreeable. War is at all times a most fearful scourge. The thought of slain bodies and of murdered men must always harrow up the soul; but because we hear of these things in the distance, there are few Englishmen who can truly enter into their horrors. If we should hear the booming of cannon on the deep which girdles this island; if we should see at our doors the marks of carnage and bloodshed; then should we more thoroughly
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

The Death of Christ for his People
"He laid down his life for us."--1 John 3:16. COME, believer and contemplate this sublime truth, thus proclaimed to thee in simple monosyllables: "He laid down his life for us." There is not one long word in the sentence; it is all as simple as it can be; and it is simple because it is sublime. Sublimity in thought always needs simplicity in words to express itself. Little thoughts require great words to explain them; little preachers need Latin words to convey their feeble ideas, but great thoughts
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 46: 1900

The Warrant of Faith
We sing, and sing rightly too-- "My soul, no more attempt to draw Thy life and comfort from the law," for from the law death cometh and not life, misery and not comfort. "To convince and to condemn is all the law can do." O, when will all professors, and especially all professed ministers of Christ, learn the difference between the law and the gospel? Most of them make a mingle-mangle, and serve out deadly potions to the people, often containing but one ounce of gospel to a pound of law, whereas,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

The Way of Life.
(Second Sunday after Trinity.) 1 JOHN iii. 14. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." The writings of S. John the Evangelist breathe forth love as a flower garden does sweetness. Here lies the secret of S. John's title, "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Love begets love, and the disciple was so near to the heart of his Master because he loved much. When the text was written he was a very old man, and Bishop of Ephesus. It was in that fair and famous
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2

"But Ye have Received the Spirit of Adoption, Whereby we Cry, Abba, Father. "
Rom. viii. 15.--"But ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God," 1 John iii. 1. It is a wonderful expression of love to advance his own creatures, not only infinitely below himself, but far below other creatures, to such a dignity. Lord, what is man that thou so magnified him! But it surpasseth wonder, that rebellious creatures, his enemies, should have, not only
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"Whereby we Cry, Abba, Father. "
Rom. viii. 15.--"Whereby we cry, Abba, Father." As there is a light of grace in bestowing such incomparably high dignities and excellent gifts on poor sinners, such as, to make them the sons of God who were the children of the devil, and heirs of a kingdom who were heirs of wrath; so there is a depth of wisdom in the Lord's allowance and manner of dispensing his love and grace in this life. For though the love be wonderful, that we should be called the sons of God; yet, as that apostle speaks,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"And for Sin Condemned Sin in the Flesh. "
Rom. viii. 3.--"And for sin condemned sin in the flesh." The great and wonderful actions of great and excellent persons must needs have some great ends answerable to them. Wisdom will teach them not to do strange things, but for some rare purposes, for it were a folly and madness to do great things to compass some small and petty end, as unsuitable as that a mountain should travail to bring forth a mouse. Truly we must conceive, that it must needs be some honourable and high business, that brought
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

What is Sanctification?
Scripturally, the word sanctification has three meanings: First, separation; second, dedication; third, spirit-filling. Webster's definition of it is as follows: "1. Sanctification is the act of God's grace by which the affections of man are purified, or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love of God; also, the state of being thus purified or sanctified. 2. The act of consecrating, or setting apart for a sacred purpose." "Sanctifier. One who sanctifies or makes holy; specifically,
J. W. Byers—Sanctification

The Sinner Arraigned and Convicted.
1. Conviction of guilt necessary.--2. A charge of rebellion against God advanced.--3. Where it is shown--that all men are born under God's law.--4. That no man hath perfectly kept it.--5. An appeal to the reader's conscience on this head, that he hath not.--6. That to have broken it, is an evil inexpressibly great.--7. Illustrated by a more particular view of the aggravations of this guilt, arising--from knowledge.--8. From divine favors received.--9. From convictions of conscience overborne.--10.
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Solidarity of the Human Family
Every man has worth and sacredness as a man. We fixed on that as the simplest and most fundamental social principle of Jesus. The second question is, What relation do men bear to each other? DAILY READINGS First Day: The Social Impulse and the Law of Christ And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, trying him: Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is
Walter Rauschenbusch—The Social Principles of Jesus

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