BROTHERLY LOVE

by J. H. Blackman, Jr.

  1. INTRODUCTION:
    1. SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 12:9-10 "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"
    2. IN FAITH AND GODLINESS BROTHERLY LOVE IS DEVELOPED: II Peter 1:7 "And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (love).

    1. The evidence of brotherly love is seen in:
      • 1 Peter 1:22 "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"
      • 1 Peter 3:8-9 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."
      • 1Thessalonians 3:12-13 "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."
      • I John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."
      1. The need of brotherly love is evident from these scriptures:
        • James 5:9 "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door."
        • I John 4:20-21 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
        • I John 3:14-15 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."

    1. BROTHERLY LOVE BRINGS OUT THE APPLICATION OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY:
      1. Brotherly love is more than knowledge of what needs to be done.
      2. Brotherly love is the applying of it to our every day lives.

      2.

  1. DISCUSSION:
    1. FAMILY RELATIONS DO NOT ALWAYS MANIFEST BROTHERLY LOVE - CONSIDER:

    1. Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)
    2. Isaac and Ishmael (Genesis 21) Galatians 4:29 "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now."
    3. Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 37).
    4. Jacob and Esau (Geneses 27).

    1. TRUE BROTHERLY LOVE CAN EXIST AMONG THOSE NOT PHYSICALLY RELATED:
      1. David and Jonathan. 2 Samuel 1:26 "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women."
      2. Ruth and Naomi. Ruth 1:16-17 "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."
      3. Hiram, King of Tyre, for his friend David I Kings 5:1 "And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David."
      4. Jesus and Lazarus. John 11:35-36 "Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!"


COMMENT: A tragedy of life in life is not to be loved. A greater tragedy is not to be able to love

  1. BROTHERLY LOVE:
    1. Causes one to turn loose selfishness and find the freedom that is expressed in love.

      1. One of the first principles of Christianity is to surrender ourselves. Luke 9:23 "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
      2. It is a joy to find brotherly love existing in the church.
      3. In manifesting brotherly love one finds himself loved more din return.
        1. Causes envies, suspicions, prejudices, and mistrust to disappear. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
        2. It enables us to know we have passed from death to life. I John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

  2. THE BROTHERHOOD OF CHRIST DOES NOT ALWAYS MANIFEST BROTHERLY LOVE:
    1. This was evident in the early church Acts 6:1 "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration."
      • Acts 9:26-27 "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus."
      • James 2:1-6 "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?"
      1. Envy, malice and hatred are springing up ever where in the Lord’s vineyard today.
      2. There is more interest in whose side you are on rather than your love and convictions.
      3. Selfish ideas and opinions are breaking down love for God and love for his children’s souls.

    1. A lack of brotherly love is missing in the local congregations. Ask yourselves:

      1. Are we friendly? (Both in an out of the place of meeting).
      2. Are we congregation where real brotherly love is manifest?

    2. A lack of brotherly love is evidenced by improper attitudes:
      1. Isolation: Do not desire to be with brothers and sisters of God’s family.
      2. Inhospitable: Not friendly to strangers; do not welcome others.
      3. Unsympathetic: Brother or sister dies without show of concern.
      4. Non-participate: Do not assist in activities where possible.

COMMENT: Some have done more "soul losing" with attitudes than "soul winning".

  1. JESUS CHRIST, OUR BROTHER, SHOWS US WHAT BROTHERLY LOVE TRUTH IS:

    1. He knows the feelings of our physical needs. Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

    2. We see Jesus in his life manifesting brother love:

    1. Drying a widow’s tears. Luke 7:13 "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not."
    2. Love for children. Matthew 19:13-15 "Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence."
    3. Woman taken in adultery. John 8:3-11 "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
    4. Feeding the hungry. Matthew 15:36-38 "And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children." e. Consoling the bereaved John 11:35 "Jesus wept"

      1. It isn’t enough to just be tolerantly friendly, we must be like Christ. 1 Peter 3:21 "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

  1. CONCLUSION:

    1. LET US MANIFEST BROTHERLY LOVE, FOR BROTHERLY LOVE IS:

      1. A fuel which causes us to have warmth, fervor and a radiant love.
      2. A balm to soothe the strains of friction in service to God.
      3. A bond to cement our relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ. Colossians 3:12-15 "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

    B. WITHOUT BROTHERLY LOVE WE WILL NOT INHERIT GOD’S BLESSING.
    • I Peter 3:8-9 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.."

Back to the Top