Verses to review today: 1 John 3:1-5:2
New Verse: 1 John 5:3


For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (ESV)

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (KJV)

Greek: αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ τηρῶμεν, καὶ αἱ ἐντολαὶ αὐτοῦ βαρεῖαι οὐκ εἰσίν.

Transliterated Greek: hautē gar estin hē agapē tou theou, hina tas entolas autou tērōmen, kai hai entolai autou bareiai ouk eisin.

Literal Word for Word Translation: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not difficult.

Vocab: βαρεῖαι, bareiai, heavy/difficult.

Commentary: One who does not know God, nor love Him, cannot keep His commandments because he has no interest in doing so, except where it suits he own advantage. Whereas, one who knows God, abides in the Spirit and the Spirit in Him, also abides in the commdments, doing them, because he is the one who has interest in doing them. He who has no interest in the commandments does not love God since the commandments represent the very nature of who God is. It is a contradiction to say one loves God and yet does not love His commandments such that He will want to keep them.