Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:11

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, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Actions betray the inner truth about a person. Hating brother shows that this person's

C1 Heart is in darkness

C2 Spirit is in darkness

C3 Life--does not know where he is going

B2 Actions are a result of wrong (in God's view) choices

A2 Notes

B1 Hates

C1 The Greek word for hate is μισέω miseo

C2 It means hate, detest. Had deeply this hate is depends on the text. Here it appears to be a very strong dislike. How can this be? It is because the work of the Holy Spirit is nonexistent in his life. Hate is an evidence of darkness.

C3 The solution to this is to repent (a total change of mind, attitude, and actions), confess the sin to God, believe God, and ask for His help.

C4 Cross references--Matthew 5:21-26, John 3:20, Titus 3:3, Hebrews 1:9 (sin is a good thing to hate).

B2 Darkness

C1 An evidence of not being a Christian.

C2 The Greek word is σκοτία skotia.

C3 It means darkness literally and figuratively.

C4 Cross references John 12:35, Isaiah 59:9-10, John 3:19-20

C5 There is hope for human though--I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. (John 12:46, GNB92)

B3 Walking

C1 Walk = living our daily lives. It is to be as the New Testament teaches us. To know these things we must read and study the Bible. Matthew 11:29, Philippians 2:5, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 Peter 1:15-16

C2 We need to walk as Jesus walked which is the thoughts, desires, words, and deeds how Jesus lived. Obviously, we are not God, so we cannot do miracles as He did, but we can have the same attitude towards others, honor God, obey the Scriptures, and so on. Consider 1 Kings 6:12, 2 Kings 20:3, Ephesians 2:1-2, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 5:8 (walking in darkness is having our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds in the world's way instead God's way of living Galatians 5:16-26).

B4 Does not know where he is going

C1 We do need guidance. We must learn from somewhere. We naturally choose the wrong. There are teachers who teach how to do wrong, just as there are teachers who teach how to do right. The Bible, especially the New Testament, teaches us how to live right.

C2 See Psalms 25:5, Psalms 25:9

C3 For guidance we need

D1 Humility (we need to ask/pray for it) James 1:5, 2 Chronicles 1:10, John 16:24

D2 Trust/believe that He will guide and lead Proverbs 3:5-6

D3 Know the Bible and study it.

E1 The New Testament is for Christians. The principles in the Old Testament are also taught in the New Testament

E2 We must do some things

E2 We must not do some things.

E3 Principles are taught.

E4 Examples are given of failure and success

E5 Bible verses

F1 6 Things to lay aside

G1 Wickedness (James 1:21)

G2 All malice (1 Peter 2:1)

G3 All guile (1 Peter 2:1)

G4 All hypocrisies ((1 Peter 2:1)

G5 All envies (1 Peter 2:1)

G6 All evil speaking (1 Peter 2:1).

F2 Follow things of peace (Romans 14:19)

F3 Follow things that edify (Romans 14:19)

F4 Please neighbor for good (Romans 15:2-3

F5 Matthew 16:1 is an example of doing wrong when plenty of signs had already been seen.

A3 Questions

B1 What effect does hate have on people whether friends, enemies, family, or strangers?

B2 Why does showing hate so strongly condemned?

B3 Why is it important to read and study the Bible?

B4 Why do people need guidance?