SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:18
Hijitos míos, no amemos de palabra ni de lengua, sino con obra y de verdad.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:18
Verse 18. My little children] teknia mou, My beloved children, let us not love in word - in merely allowing the general doctrine of love to God and man to be just and right; Neither in tongue] In making professions of love, and of a charitable and humane disposition, and resting there; but in deed - by humane and merciful acts; And in truth.] Feeling the disposition of which we speak. There is a good saying in Yalcut Rubeni, fol. 145, 4, on this point: "If love consisted in word only, then love ceaseth as soon as the word is pronounced. Such was the love between Balak and Balaam. But if love consisteth not in word, it cannot be dissolved; such was the love of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the rest of the patriarchs which were before them."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue , &c.] Which though it holds good of love to God, and to Jesus Christ, yet here is to be understood of love to the brethren, as the context shows; and so the Syriac version reads, let us not love one another in word, &c. that is, without the heart, or with a double heart; speaking one thing with the lip, and designing another thing in the heart; speaking peaceably with the mouth, and with the heart laying wait; or we should not love in this manner only; and so the Arabic version of Deuteronomy Dieu adds. It is very lawful, and right to express our love to one another, and to all men in words, to give good words, and use courteous language, and speak in a kind, tender, and affectionate manner, and especially to persons in distress; but this should not be all, it will be of no avail to say to such, be warmed and filled, and give them nothing but these good words, nothing to warm and fill them with; (see James 2:15,16); but in deed and in truth ; for true love is a laborious and operative grace, hence we read of the work and labour of love; it shows itself by the saints serving one another, in spirituals; as by bearing one another's burdens, forbearing with, and forgiving one another, praying for each other, and building up one another on their most holy faith; exhorting each other to the duties of religion, and not suffering sins upon one another, but admonish in love, and restore with meekness; and in temporals, distributing to the necessities of the saints, ministering: to them of their worldly substance, and supplying their daily wants: and this is loving in deed, or in work; this is actual love, love in fact, and what is apparent and evident: and it is in truth, when it is in reality, and not in show only; and when it is cordially and heartily done, with cheerfulness, and without grudging.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-21 - Here is the condescension, the miracle, the mystery of Divine love that God would redeem the church with his own blood. Surely we shoul love those whom God has loved, and so loved. The Holy Spirit, grieve at selfishness, will leave the selfish heart without comfort, and ful of darkness and terror. By what can it be known that a man has a tru sense of the love of Christ for perishing sinners, or that the love of God has been planted in his heart by the Holy Spirit, if the love of the world and its good overcomes the feelings of compassion to perishing brother? Every instance of this selfishness must weaken the evidences of a man's conversion; when habitual and allowed, it mus decide against him. If conscience condemn us in known sin, or the neglect of known duty, God does so too. Let conscience therefore be well-informed, be heard, and diligently attended to.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ εν 1722 PREP τουτω 5129 D-DSN γινωσκομεν 1097 5719 V-PAI-1P οτι 3754 CONJ εκ 1537 PREP της 3588 T-GSF αληθειας 225 N-GSF εσμεν 2070 5748 V-PXI-1P και 2532 CONJ εμπροσθεν 1715 PREP αυτου 846 P-GSM πεισομεν 3982 5692 V-FAI-1P τας 3588 T-APF καρδιας 2588 N-APF ημων 2257 P-1GP
