11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. (1 John 3:11-13 KJV)
The Imperative of Love
The apostle, having noted that one mark of the devil’s children is hatred of the brethren, takes the opportunity to recommend Christian love, based on the importance and foundational nature of the command: “This is the message you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11). We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and, as a result, love all those he loves—our fellow believers.
He then warns against the opposite—hatred toward fellow Christians—by referring to the example of Cain. His envy and hatred should warn us against nurturing similar feelings, for the following reasons:
- He was like the firstborn of the serpent’s offspring; as the eldest son of Adam, he was of the wicked one. He imitated and reflected the character of the devil.
- His hatred led to murder, even of his own brother, at a time when the world was still sparsely populated. “He murdered his brother” (1 John 3:12). Sin, when indulged, has no limits.
- His act of murder was rooted in religious envy. He was angry at the superiority of Abel’s offering and the favor God showed 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 what we ought to admire and imitate.
Therefore, the apostle concludes that we shouldn’t be surprised if the world treats believers the same way: “Don’t be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you” (1 John 3:13). The serpent’s nature still exists in the world, and the devil still rules as its god. So it’s no wonder that the world, like a serpent, hates and hisses at those who belong to the woman’s offspring destined to crush the serpent’s head.