1 John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren."
Hereby perceive we... By this we know the love of God and our duty to others. This is the exact counterpart of John 3:16. With this phrase, John introduces the standard of love that is reflected in genuine Christianity. It becomes the measuring stick for every expression of love, see verse 18.
Hereby (ἐν τοίτῳ)
Lit., in this. Characteristic of John. See John 8:35; 15:8; 16:30; 1Jhn. 2:5; 3:24; 4:13; 5:2; 3:16; 3:19; 4:2. The expression points to what follows, if we keep His commandments, yet with a covert reference to that idea as generally implied in the previous words concerning fellowship with God and walking in the light.
John presents the third characteristic of Satan’s children in terms of their lack of love. Satan’s children are marked by indifference toward others’ needs (see also verses 12, 15).
Perceive goes beyond just seeing. It has with it an understanding. Greater love hath no man, than He lay down His life for His friends. Jesus gave it all, because of His great love for us. His love is God love, which none of us can quite live up to.
perceive (ἐγνώκαμεν)
Rev., correctly, know.
the love
Omit the italics of A.V., of God, and render as Rev., hereby know we love.
he laid down... This expression is unique to John (John 10-11, 15, 17, 18; 13:37-38; 15:13) and speaks of divesting oneself of something. Christian love is self-sacrificing and giving. Christ’s giving up His life for believers epitomized the true nature of Christian love (John 15:12-13, Phil. 2:5-8; 1 Pet. 2: 19-23).
laid down His life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἔθηκεν)
The phrase is peculiar to John, occurring in the Gospel and First Epistle. It is explained in two ways: either (1) as laying down as a pledge, paying as a price, according to the classical usage of the word τίθημι. So Demosthenes, to pay interest or the alien tax. Or (2) according to John 13:4, as laying aside his life like a garment. The latter seems preferable. Τίθημι, in the sense of to pay down a price, does not occur in the New Testament, unless this phrase, to lay down the life, be so explained. In John 13:4, layeth aside His garments τίδησι τὰ ἱμάτια is followed, in John 13:12, by had taken His garments ἔλαβε τὰ ἱμάτια. So, in this chapter, giveth τίδησιν His life (John 10:11), and I lay down τίδημι my life (John 10:17, 10:18), are followed by λαβεῖν to take it again. The phrases τὴν ψυχὴν He laid down His life, and τὰς ψυχὰς θεῖναι to lay down our lives, occur in 1Jhn. 3:16. The verb is used in the sense of laying aside in the classics, as to lay aside war, shields, etc. Compare Mat. 20:28, δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν, to give His life.
we ought to... God calls Christians to that same standard of love for one another as He had for us, see verse 16a.
we ought (ὀφείλομεν)
An obligation, put as a debt. See Luke 17:10, and on debts, Mat. 6:12. The word expresses a special, personal obligation, and not as δεῖ must, an obligation in the nature of things. See John 20:9, and compare 1Jhn. 3:16; 4:11; 3Jhn. 1:8.
We can pattern our love after the example He left us. We must learn to love, not because of what we can get out of something, but in spite of what it might cost us. Unselfish love should be the character of all Christians.
What Love Is
In stark contrast with hatred stands the true character of Christian love. So far is it from the spirit of murder that its essence lies in giving one’s life for others rather than taking lives. This was exemplified in Jesus Christ who laid down His life for us. With this as a model, Christians should be prepared to make similar sacrifices for their brothers.
LOFTY IDEALS PERILOUS UNLESS APPLIED
Even the world sees that the Incarnation of Jesus Christ has very practical results. Even the Christmas which the world keeps is fruitful in two of these results- forgiving and giving. How many of the multitudinous letters at that season contain one or other of these things-either the kindly gift, or the tender of reconciliation; the confession I was wrong, or the gentle advance we were both wrong.
Love, charity as we rather prefer to say, in its effects upon all our relations to others, is the beautiful subject of this section of our Epistle. It begins with the message of love itself-yet another asterisk referring to the Gospel, to the very substance of the teaching which the believers of Ephesus had first received from St. Paul, and which had been emphasized by St. John.
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