1 John 3:10

In this. With this verse John begins another section of his epistle (vs. 10-18). He makes this transition smoothly by speaking of the “children of God,” that is, those who are born of God, those with whom he has already dealt in chs. 2:29 to 3:9. He now shows that children of God will love one another, whereas those who belong to the devil will feel hatred toward their brethren.

Children of God. John is here referring to those who have been “born of God” (see on v. 9; cf. on John 1:12).

Are manifest. That is, to men, for God does not need to be informed concerning the character of His own children, and He is aware of those who do not belong to Him.

Children of the devil. See on v. 8.

Doeth not righteousness. Here John states the negative of the truth given earlier — “every one that doeth righteousness is born of him” (see on ch. 2:29). If the positive is true, the negative is also. There is no neutral ground in conduct: he who is not doing righteousness is to that extent doing evil, and thereby demonstrating that he is not “of God” (literally, “out of God”), but is drawing his motivation from the devil.

Loveth not. The Gnostic teachers (see p. 625) believed themselves to be the elect, but did not extend brotherly love to their fellows. John now shows that the true Christian cannot do otherwise than love his brother.