1 John 3:21-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 3:20-22

The apostle, having intimated that there may be, even among us, such a privilege as an assurance or sound persuasion of heart towards God, proceeds here, I. To establish the court of conscience, and to assert the authority of it: For, if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things, 1 John 3:20. Our heart here is our self-reflecting judicial power, that noble excellent ability whereby we can take cognizance of ourselves, of our spirits, our dispositions, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 3:23-24

The apostle, having mentioned keeping the commandments, and pleasing God, as the qualification of effectual petitioners in and with Heaven, here suitably proceeds, I. To represent to us what those commandments primarily and summarily are; they are comprehended in this double one: And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment, 1 John 3:23. To believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ is, 1. To discern... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 3:19-24

3:19-24a By this we know that we are of the truth, and by this we will reassure our heart before him, when our heart condemns us in anything, for God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we can come confidently to God and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do the things which are well pleasing to him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 3:19-24

John goes on to speak of the two things which are well-pleasing in God's sight, the two commandments on obedience to which our relationship to God depends. (i) We must believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Here we have that use of the word name which is peculiar to the biblical writers. It does not mean simply the name by which a person is called; it means the whole nature and character of that person as far as it is known to us. The Psalmist writes: "Our help is in the name of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:21

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not ,.... Which must be understood, not of a stupidity of mind, as is in unregenerate men, who have no sense of sin, no sorrow for it, or remorse of conscience on account of it; or as is in them who are past feeling; having their consciences seared as with a red hot iron; such cannot be entitled to the advantages that follow; nor is it of persons the apostle speaks, but of himself, and Christians, the beloved of the Lord, and one another, who had an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:22

And whatsoever we ask we receive of him ,.... According to his promise, Matthew 7:7 ; that is, whatever is asked according to the will of God, in the name of Christ, and for his sake, and in faith, nothing wavering, but believing in God, in his covenant and promises, for these are provisos in the case; and such as ask in this way may exercise an holy confidence that they shall receive; and indeed they do receive what they ask for; see 1 John 5:14 ; because we keep his commandments ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:23

And this is his commandment ,.... Having mentioned the keeping of the commandments of God, the apostle proceeds to show what they are; that they are faith in Christ, and love to one another; which two are reduced to one, because they are inseparable; where the one is, the other is; faith works by love. That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ ; Christ is the object of faith, and he is no, as he is Jesus, a Saviour; faith deals with him as such, and will have no other... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:24

And he that keepeth his commandments ,.... Attends to those instructions and declarations concerning faith in Christ, and love to the brethren, and acts according to them: dwelleth in him, and he in them ; that is, he dwells in Christ, and Christ dwells in him; the same is said of believing in Christ under the figurative expressions of eating his flesh, and drinking his blood; see Gill on John 6:56 ; and hereby we know that he abideth in us ; or dwelleth in us, as before, by the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:21

If our heart condemn us not - If we be conscious to ourselves of our own sincerity, that we practice not deceit, and use no mask, then have we confidence toward God - we can appeal to him for our sincerity, and we can come with boldness to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. And therefore says the apostle, read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:22

Whatsoever we ask - In such a spirit, we receive of him, for he delights to bless the humble, upright, and sincere soul. Because we keep his commandments - Viz., by loving him and loving our neighbor. These are the great commandments both of the old covenant and the new. And whoever is filled with this love to God and man will do those things which are pleasing to him; for love is the very soul and principle of obedience. The word heart is used in the preceding verses for conscience;... read more

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