“Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them” (1 John2:10-11).
In these two verses, apostle John is contrasting two personalities; one who loves and the one who hates. The one who loves abides in the light; that is in Christ. Such a person cannot be a stumbling block to his brethren. His/her life is controlled by love as taught by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails”. This person will have nothing in him to make his brother stumble because love is the great binding force in the universe.
However, the hating man is just the opposite. He is in darkness and walks in darkness. He is not in Christ; therefore he does not know God. He does not even profess to know God. He is wrapped up and focused only upon the world. This person does not care about other people; he can do anything no matter who is hurt provided he gets what he wants. He lives mainly for the pleasures and passions of the world.
This person has no direction and is blind. He does not look beyond this life and he is blind to it. He sees little if any meaning to life other than getting all he can of its comfort, pleasures and possessions. Therefore, to hate his neighbor means nothing to him if his neighbor gets in the way. He has no direction.
Apostle John addressed his first epistle to the church, a community of believers. Every believer will have to make a choice of how he/she is to conduct his/her life. Let us not forget our Lord’s new commandment “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)