1 John 5:3

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does 1 John 5:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1 John 5:3 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 John 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, &c.] Keeping of the commandments of God is an evidence of love to God; this shows that love is not in word and tongue, in profession only, but in deed and in truth; and that such persons have a sense of the love of God upon their souls, under the influence of which they act; and such shall have, and may expect to have, greater manifestations of the love of God unto them: and his commandments are not grievous; heavy, burdensome, and disagreeable; by which are meant, not so much the precepts of the moral law, which through the weakness of the flesh are hard to be kept, and cannot be perfectly fulfilled; though believers indeed, being…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“this is--the love of God consists in this. not grievous--as so many think them. It is "the way of the transgressor" that "is hard." What makes them to the regenerate "not grievous," is faith which "overcometh the world" (Jo1 5:4): in proportion as faith is strong, the grievousness of God's commandments to the rebellious flesh is overcome. The reason why believers feel any degree of irksomeness in God's commandments is, they do not realize fully by faith the privileges of their spiritual life.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments - This constitutes true love; this furnishes the evidence of it. And his commandments are not grievous - Greek, “heavy” - βαρεῖαι bareiai; that is, difficult to be borne as a burden. See Matthew 11:30. The meaning is, that his laws are not unreasonable; the duties which he requires are not beyond our ability; his government is not oppressive. It is easy to obey God when the heart is right; and those who endeavor in sincerity to keep his commandments do not complain that they are hard. All complaints of this kind come from those who are not disposed to keep his commandments. Indeed, they object that his laws are unreasonable; that…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For this is the love of God - The only sure proof of it. That we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous - To any that are born of God. 1 John 5:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“this: Exo 20:6; Deu 5:10, Deu 7:9, Deu 10:12, Deu 10:13; Dan 9:4; Mat 12:47-50; Joh 14:15; Joh 14:21-24, Joh 15:10, Joh 15:14; Jo2 1:6 and: Psa 19:7-11, Psa 119:45, Psa 119:47, Psa 119:48, Psa 119:103, Psa 119:104, Psa 119:127, Psa 119:128, Psa 119:140; Pro 3:17; Mic 6:8; Mat 11:28-30; Rom 7:12, Rom 7:22; Heb 8:10 1 John 5:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification