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"But he who hates his brother is in darkness..."

Text: 1 John 2:11

LOVE AND HATE II

John offers a contrast in this text. The person who hates is well-described here.

“But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness,
and does not know where he is going,
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
1 John 2:11

1. “But he who hates his brother”

a) John used the participle again.

b) In both verses the Present Participle was used.

c) The significance:-

i) The word “hate” has a verbal idea.

ii) It also has an adjectival or descriptive element.

iii) John was describing an individual who “actively hates” his brother.

2. A clear description given

a) This individual “is in darkness”.

i) It does not matter if he claims he is a believer.

ii) It matters not if he claims he is abiding in the light.

b) “And walks in darkness”

i) The word “walk” is often used to describe the life of a person.

ii) The individual is living in a very dark world.

c) “And does not know where he is going”

i) How could he know where is going?

ii) How could he know where he would end up?

iii) How could he see the stumbling blocks before him?

d) “Because the darkness has blinded his eyes”

i) John was speaking of spiritual blindness.

ii) Sin causes spiritual blindness.

iii) The individual is very much like a blind man in the world of the sighted.

iv) He would not be able to navigate his way of life safely.