Why are you called a liar if you love God , but not your brother?

Chapter 4 warns Christians not to accept every claim they hear. Instead, believers are to compare what they hear to the basic truths of the gospel. John then returns to the theme of love, explaining how believers ought to live out the presence of God's love in their lives. In addition, living according to God's love takes away our fear of judgment. In no uncertain terms, those who claim to love God, but hate others, are liars.

First John 4:20–21 concludes chapter 4 by clearly stating the importance of love in the life of a believer. Those who cannot love people they can see cannot love a God they cannot see. Anyone who harbors hate, but claims to love God, is a liar. Other parts of this letter have explained that love, shown by Christians, is meant to be how God is ''seen'' by the world.

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

According to the Bible, in 1 John 4:20, it is stated that “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” . This verse emphasizes the importance of loving one’s fellow human beings as a way of expressing love for God. It suggests that if someone claims to love God but does not love their fellow human beings, then they are not being truthful.

This verse is one of five times John mentions liars in this letter . Love for others, especially fellow Christians, is a primary commandment from Christ. So, a person who exhibits hate for others, but claims to know God, is lying. A liar says he knows God but does not keep His commands .

According to the NET Bible notes, in 1 John 4:20, the term “brother” means “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” . This verse emphasizes the importance of loving one’s fellow human beings as a way of expressing love for God. It suggests that if someone claims to love God but does not love their fellow human beings, then they are not being truthful.

According to the NET Bible notes, in 1 John 4:20, the term “brother” means “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” . This verse emphasizes the importance of loving one’s fellow human beings as a way of expressing love for God. It suggests that if someone claims to love God but does not love their fellow human beings, then they are not being truthful.

The term “neighbor” is used in the Bible to refer to anyone who is in need of our help, regardless of their race, religion, or social status. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches that our neighbor is anyone who is in need of our help, even if they are a stranger or an enemy .

In the context of 1 John 4:20, the term “brother” refers to fellow believers, while the term “neighbor” refers to anyone who is in need of our help. The verse emphasizes the importance of loving one’s fellow human beings as a way of expressing love for God, regardless of their race, religion, or social status.

The Bible teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves. In Mark 12:31, Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” . This commandment is the second greatest commandment, following the commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength .

To love our neighbor as ourselves, we must first understand who our neighbor is. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches that our neighbor is anyone who is in need of our help, even if they are a stranger or an enemy .

Here are some practical tips for loving your neighbor as yourself:

Decide to receive compassion as a way of life.

Decide to be compassionate to the particular people around you.

List those people in terms of degree of closeness.

Begin to pay attention to them.

This verse is the fourth of five times John mentions liars in this letter (1 John 1:10; 2:4, 22; 4:20; 5:10). Love for others, especially fellow Christians, is a primary commandment from Christ. So, a person who exhibits hate for others, but claims to know God, is lying. A liar says he knows God but does not keep His commands (1 John 2:4). A liar denies Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22). Here, we are told that a liar says he loves God but hates other people.

The second part of the verse adds an explanation, moving from the "seen" to the "unseen." It is more difficult to love someone you cannot see than someone you can see. If a person cannot love those they see, they cannot reasonably claim to love those they cannot see. This verse explicitly declares that a person cannot truly love God while hating other people. The person who claims to love God must also show love for others.

This also ties into the idea that, since we cannot see God in all of His divine essence, love is meant to be the way God is seen. Both in ourselves, and in the world, God's love is meant to be the way humanity "sees" Him.

My conclusion, then, is simply this: If we do not seek to know and love God first and foremost through our own prayer, offered always with our own personal mustard seed of love for Him, then our hearts will settle on the wrong things and we will inescapably love our neighbors so poorly as to do them harm.

Engage in the spiritual disciplines that enable you to operate from a constant fullness of grace .

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