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I. OBSERVE HOW IN THE VERY NAME OF THIS GRACE THERE LIE LESSONS AS TO ITS FOUNDATION AND AS TO ITS NATURE. The word is all but a coinage of Christianity, and the thing is entirely so. The gospel bridged over all the divisions, and brought bond and free, Jew and Gentile, man and woman, into a great unity, so deep, so real, that all antagonism vanished. "The mystery hid from ages" was revealed — that a common relation to a Divine Father made all the men who partook of it one. But let us think of what instruction this word contains in reference to the foundation of this Christian unity. We go deep down into the very heart of Christianity when we talk about all Christians being "brethren." It is not a mere sentimental expression to convey the idea that they ought to love one another, but it is a declaration of the deep reason why they ought thus to love one another; and it links on to that great truth, that in Jesus Christ all they that love Him and trust to Him do receive direct from God a real communication of a new and supernatural spiritual life, which makes them no more merely sons of God by creation and after the flesh, but sons of God through the Spirit. The lonely pilgrim travels to the Cross, and when he comes there he finds that he is "come unto the general assembly and church of the firstborn which are written in heaven." This unity is a far deeper thing than mere identity of opinion. Christ's Church is no voluntary association into which men may pass or not, as they please, but you are born into it, if you are Christian people, as much as you are born into your mother's house. And you can no more denude yourselves of your relationships to the other men who possess the same life, than you can break the tie of brotherhood which hinds you to all them that have received corporeal life from the same source as you.

II. OBSERVE THAT THE PLACE WHICH THIS VIRTUE HOLDS IN THE SERIES TEACHES US THE ONE-SIDEDNESS OF A CHARACTER WITHOUT IT, HOWEVER STRONG AND SELF-CONTROLLED. Unless the rock be crowned with a coronet of wild flowers it is savage and black. And unless to our strength that fronts the world, to our quick discernment of duty that looks through illusions and clearly sees duty, to our self-control, that is severe to ourselves, and to ourselves alone; to our patient persistence that bears and does and hopes on and ever, we add the supreme beauty of sympathetic gentleness and Christlike tenderness, all these other lovelinesses will lack their last touch of poignant exquisiteness that makes them complete. On the other hand, it is a very real danger in earnest Christian culture, that we shall concentrate our attention far too much on the self-regarding virtues, and too little upon those which refer to others. The place which this brotherly kindness occupies in our series, may further teach us that it is a great mistake for good men to cultivate the gentler graces at the expense of the sterner and the stronger. Christian love is no mere feeble emotion, but a strong and mailed warrior, who beareth all things, and can do all things.

III. THE OCCURRENCE OF THIS GRACE IN OUR SERIES TEACHES US THE LESSON THAT IT IS A DUTY TO BE WON BY EFFORT. It is just as much your duty to cherish brotherly love to all professing Christian people as it is to govern your own passions, or to do any of these other things that are enjoined upon us here. The introductory clause of this whole series covers them all. "Giving all diligence, add to your faith." The hindrances are strong and real enough to make effort to overcome them absolutely essential. There is our own selfishness. That is the master-devil of the whole gang that come between us and true Christian charity to our brethren. And then, besides that, there is in our day a wide distinction among Christian people, in station, in education, in general outlook upon life, in opinion. In addition there is that most formidable hindrance of all, our wretched denominational rivalries.

IV. THE PLACE WHICH THIS GRACE HOLDS IN OUR SERIES TEACHES US THE BEST WAY OF MAKING IT OUR OWN. "In your godliness supply brotherly love." The more we realise our dependence upon God the more we shall realise our kindred with our brethren. The electric spark of love to Christ will combine the else separate elements into one. Cleaving to the one Shepherd, the else scattered sheep become one flock, held together, not by the outward bonds of a fold, but by the attraction that fastens them all to Him.

(A. Maclaren, D. D.)

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KJV: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

WEB: Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;