1 John 3:11 - Meaning and Application

The apostle has just said that one mark of the devil’s children is hatred toward fellow believers. From that, he turns to encourage Christian love. He reminds them of the message they heard from the beginning, the basic teaching of practical Christianity: we should love one another (1 John 3:11). We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and therefore love all who belong to him.

He also warns against anything that goes against this love, especially hatred of the brethren, and he does this by pointing to Cain. Cain’s envy and evil heart should keep us from nursing the same kind of spirit. Cain showed that he belonged to the wicked one, the devil, just as the first man’s eldest son became like the first great rebel against God. His hatred had no restraint. It led all the way to murder, and even the murder of his own brother, in the earliest days of the world when there were still very few people on earth (1 John 3:12).

Sin, when allowed to grow, never stays within limits. Cain’s sin also carried the mark of the devil because he killed his brother over religion. He was angry at Abel’s better worship and jealous of the favor Abel had with God. That is why he murdered him. “Why did he kill him? Because his own actions were evil, and his brother’s were righteous” (1 John 3:12). Hatred can make us despise and attack what we ought to admire and follow.

From this, we should not be surprised when faithful people are treated the same way now. “Do not be amazed, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you” (1 John 3:13). The snake-like nature of sin still remains in the world. The great serpent, the devil, still rules as the god of this world. So it is no wonder that the world, which belongs to that evil spirit, hates and mocks those who belong to the woman’s seed, the one who will crush the serpent’s head.