<p>2:4 <em>He that says: I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him</em>- As noted on :3 and :5, the &quot;commandments&quot; is a plural of majesty referring to the one great commandment, to love our brother as the Lord loved us. If we do not, then any profession to &quot;know Him&quot; / have a relationship with Him is hollow. Indeed, we are 'liars', &quot;the truth&quot; of the light of the Lord Jesus, &quot;the spirit of truth&quot;, is not in our hearts. I suggested on Jn. 8:44 that the &quot;liar&quot; who committed the first murder was Cain, and not any personal Satan figure. Cain is set up as representative of all who hate their brother (3:12). To lie, in this context, is to claim to know God and hold &quot;His truth&quot;, but to not love our brother. Sadly these terms, truth, lies, keeping commandments etc., have been applied to knowing theoretical, propositional truth regarding theology- and the entire point has conveniently been missed. And it is a misplaced focus on those very things which has led to hatred of brethren.</p>