I John 3:15 “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer” points to attitudes and behaviors that are highly destructive and will soon destroy families, communities, and local Churches. The word, “hateth”, is in the ‘historical present’ tense, meaning that it is an existing and ongoing condition. Moses addressed hatred this way, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.” (Leviticus 19:17). There is a sense in which we are to “hate” sin, especially that sin that is in ourselves (Romans 7:15). But, John is addressing the unjust hatred among Brethren. Hatred in the “heart” leaks out in a person’s demeanor, behavior, and in their failure to love and aid and encourage others. Those who sincerely love the Lord are offended by such attitudes and behaviors and will eventually be driven away by them. The Lord’s “sheep” (John 10:14) do well in a loving and peaceful environment; but, they inherently move away from the vileness of hatred. Hatred rises from unforgiven offenses, from jealousy, arrogance, etc. Those who hate are unkind, unhelpful, and unsociable to those that they hate. When hatred is present, it kills joy, it destroys peace, it breaks the hearts of those hated, and saddens those who see it. Hatred is like a dreadful plague, it fuels the fire of more anger and more hatred. Our Lord puts the destructive power of hatred in the same category of murder; for, it is like a heavy freeze on tender plants, it’s a killer. Born again (John 3:1-8) Children of God are graciously given the ability to reject such hatred so that it does not murder the pleasant joy and peace of families, communities, and Churches. When hatred drives folks away from Church, they are removed from essential instruction, love, encouragement, and exhortation; and their lives severely suffer for it; metaphorically, it murders them. The person that does not put hatred away from themselves, is essentially a “murderer” “and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him”. Hatred is put away by “Looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), summarily forgiving those who offend us, looking over our brother’s faults and weaknesses, and replacing hatred with lovingkindness – it helps to remember how much our Lord has forgiven us and how often He still forgives us!