1 John 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:15
This verse sharpens the ethical line John draws between love and hatred. “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer” uses strong language to show that harboring lasting hostility is spiritually dangerous. In Jewish and early Christian thought, hatred toward a person made in God’s image is a serious breach of God’s command. John uses the stark analogy of murder to awaken readers to the interior root of violence—intense, unresolved animosity that culminates in destructive actions.
The phrase “ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” does not imply a loss of salvation for the truly regenerated, but rather asserts that a habitual pattern of hatred reveals a life not transformed by Christ’s love. In a culture with social tensions and factionalism, John’s message calls believers to examine the motive of their hearts—whether love is present that reflects God’s own love.
The verse highlights the moral consistency of true faith: belief in Christ will produce love for others, particularly those within the faith family. Hatred disrupts the Spirit’s work and signals a spiritual condition incompatible with eternal life. It also reframes eternal life not merely as a future reward, but a present reality evidenced by how we treat others.
Practically, examine your relationships. Do you nurse grudges, gossip, or exclude others, especially those who differ from you? Hatred is corrosive, often hidden behind “righteous indignation.” Confess such attitudes, seek reconciliation, and pursue pathways to mend broken relationships. If you notice you’re treating a brother as “less-than,” pause and ask God to replace that hostility with compassion, even when it’s hard. The gospel frees us from cycles of revenge and retaliation, inviting forgiveness as a concrete display of Christ’s life within us. In communities, promote policies of grace, not grudges; model reconciliation in conflicts, and encourage others to do likewise.
Cross-References: 1 John 2:9–11; James 1:14–15; Matthew 5:21–24; Romans 12:9–21; Ephesians 4:31–32