READ PASSAGE.
As we continue on in our study of 2 John, once again God has brought us right back to the subject of loving one another. So here we go again.
In verse 1, note the word “ask”. What John is now saying is urgent, it’s an absolute necessity. What is it? Love—we must love one another. Love is not an option for believers.
John says he is not writing a new commandment. We know that all too well as many times as we have talked about this subject in our studies of John’s writings. This is an old commandment, the very same commandment that we had from the beginning.
Last week we were just introduced to the person or people John was writing this letter to. Note tonight how John immediately brings up the subject of love. This tells us that the dear friend of John was having problems with some people. Some people were mistreating her Lord and her. We know from the next passage that there were some false teachers who wanted to teach in her church or else they wanted to use her house for some purpose.
Last week we said how many false teachers were traveling around and taking advantage of the Christian people. This apparently was going on here. Maybe they wanted free room and board. Maybe they wanted to use her home for their study group or church social function.
Apparently she had refused to grant the request, and as a result, he was being criticized. Whatever the case was, she had actually refused to open her home to some false teachers or else John was instructing her not to welcome them. In either case, the lady was under attack of some in the church.
Now note John’s exhortation to her. What did he tell her to do? Love them. No matter what they say about you, no matter how they mistreat you, no matter how they hurt you, love them.
The point to this is that love is the very first commandment that man ever received from God, and it’s the very first commandment that we ever received from Christ. It’s even the first commandment that we receive when we become a believer. Love is the first commandment of the church itself.
God had said way back in Leviticus (19:15) that we are to love our neighbor. Jesus proclaimed that love would be the distinctive mark of His followers, the very mark that would show the world that a person was a true follower of His. (Jn. 13:35)
Note another fact about verse 5. This lady was being exhorted to love those who were mistreating her. She wasn’t being told to:
• Love her friend but not her enemy.
• Love the good but not the bad.
• Love the righteous but not the sinner.
• Love the acceptable but not the unacceptable.
• Love the friendly but not the abusive.
• Love the kind but not the criticizer.
This is a totally new concept of love. Man has always felt that he was to love his friends. Man’s tendency is to treat those who mistreat him the same way.
But John says, “No.” He instructs this lady to love those who mistreated her. How? How can we possibly love those who mistreat us? We must love as God loves. We must have to love of God within our hearts and lives.
READ v. 6. Now let’s talk a little more in detail about this love as Paul described it in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7. Love is a behavior—a way of life—a walk. It’s obeying God’s commandments. Love is obedience. The only way we can show that we love God is by doing what pleases Him.
When we love someone, we want to do things that please them. We want their acceptance and approval. We want for them to love us in return. So we’re careful to do things that will please them and win their favor and love.
The same is true with us and God. We keep His commandments. We walk like Jesus walked. We exhibit the character of love as described by Paul.
Love is patient. What does that mean? The Greek word us for patient means being patient with people, not with circumstances. No matter the evil or injury done by the person love is patient a long time without resentment or anger.
Love is kind. What does that mean? Courteous, good, helpful, useful, giving, showing and showering favors. Love doesn’t resent evil. Love reaches out in kindness, in helpfulness, in giving and showing favor to the person who neglects or hurts us.
Love doesn’t envy. What does that mean? It’s not jealous. It doesn’t have feelings against others because of what they have. It doesn’t hold a grudge or attack or downplay the abilities and success of others. Love shares and rejoices in the experience and good of others.
Love doesn’t boast. What does that mean? It doesn’t brag or seek recognition or applause from others. Just the opposite. Love seeks to give, to recognize, to honor to applaud the other person.
Love is not proud. What could that mean? Not arrogant, not conceited. Doesn’t think or act as though oneself is better or above others. Love is modest and humble and recognizes and honors others.
Love is not rude. Explain that. Love does nothing to shame oneself. Love is orderly and controlled, and it behaves and tears all persons with respect of who they are.
Love is not self-seeking. What does that mean? It’s not selfish. Doesn’t insist on its own rights. It’s not focused on who one is nor on what one had done. Love seeks to serve, not having others serve you. Love is acknowledging others, not insisting that others acknowledge you. It’s giving to others, not insisting that other give to you.
Love is not easily angered. What could that mean? Not ready to take offense. Not quick tempered. Not touchy. It’s not easily aroused to anger. Love controls the emotions, and never becomes angry without a cause.
Love keeps no record of wrongs. Explain that. It doesn’t consider the wrong suffered. It’s not resentful. It suffers the evil done to it and forgets it.
Love doesn’t delight in evil. It doesn’t take pleasure in the unrighteousness and sin of others. It doesn’t feed upon sin and wrong, nor does it pass along the stories of sin and wrong. It’s not feeling good when something happens bad to someone you dislike. “That’ll show them.”
Love rejoices with the truth. What can that mean? It rejoices when others are recognized and promoted for who they are and for what they have contributed. Love rejoices when the truth is rooted and grounded in a person and among the people of the world. Love never covers nor hides the truth; love is courageous in that it faces the truth.
Love always protects. That means that love, as it was meant to be, stand up under the weight and onslaught of all things and it covers up the fault of others. It doesn’t take pleasure in exposing the worn and weaknesses of others. Love bears up under any neglect, abuse, ridicule—anything that is thrown against it.
Love always trusts. It’s always eager to believe the best. Love sees and understands the circumstances and accepts and forgives and believes the very best about the person.
Love always hopes. It never ceases to hope. It expects the good to eventually to triumph and to gain the victory. It refuses to accept failure. No matter how fallen or how tragic the fall or how difficult gaining the victory may seem, love always hopes for the best and for the ultimate triumph.
Love always perseveres. The word “endures” is a military word meaning to stand against the attack of an enemy. That is what Paul was saying here. Love actively fights and endures all attacks. No matter what attacks love, it endures the attack and continues to love. James reminded us of this when he wrote in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
And so I think the point was well made. This dear friend of John was to walk in love no matter how others treated her. She was to love even as God’s Son had loved when He was on earth. So are we.
