1 John 3:15

Whosoever. Compare on v. 9. John is so sure of the rightness of his analysis that he can employ this all-encompassing term, knowing that it is categorically true.

Hateth. Comparison with v. 14 shows that “hateth” is synonymous with “loveth not.” Absence of love marks the presence of hate. In God’s eyes there is evidently no neutral ground.

Murderer. Greek anthrōpoktonos, literally, “man-killer.” The word occurs in the NT only here and in John 8:44. John strikingly points out the end result of hatred. There are other ways of killing a man than by physical violence that takes his life. Slander can so dishearten him as to prevent him from fully developing his innate abilities, and thus is destroyed part of the life he might have led. The very consciousness of being disliked by church members of good reputation is enough to quench the ardor of some and may even cause them to lose their faith in Christ, and thus destroy their spiritual lives.

Ye know. The writer here appeals to his readers’ instinctive knowledge. No great theological insight was needed to know that a murderer was no suitable candidate for eternal life. If scriptural proof were needed, the Saviour had made it clear that murder originated with the devil (John 8:44), and Paul had written that those who were guilty of murder would not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21). This does not mean that murder and hatred are sins for which there is no forgiveness, but that we cannot enter into life while continuing to cherish such sins. We can be washed from all sin (see on 1 John 1:9).

Abiding in him. Eternal life abides in us whenever Christ is dwelling within. Christ cannot dwell in the heart that is filled with hate, and “he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (ch. 5:11, 12).