How does John 3:20 reveal the nature of those who practice evil? Verse in Focus “Everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works will not be exposed.” (John 3:20) Key Observations • “Everyone who practices wicked things” – evil is not an accident; it is a repeated, willful practice • “Hates the light” – the response to God’s truth is emotional opposition, not mere indifference • “Does not come to the light” – deliberate withdrawal from what would reveal truth • “So that his works will not be exposed” – the motive is concealment, preserving the illusion that sin is harmless or hidden What Hating the Light Tells Us • Light equals divine truth and moral purity (John 1:4-5; 8:12) • Hating that light signals a heart opposed to God Himself (Psalm 5:4-5) • This hostility shows that evil is rooted in rebellion, not ignorance Deliberate Avoidance • The evil-doer “does not come” – an ongoing choice • Similar language: “Men loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19) • Avoidance protects sin from conviction (Ephesians 5:11-13) Fear of Exposure • “Exposed” translates to “convicted” or “shown for what it is” • Evil seeks privacy: – Adam and Eve hiding (Genesis 3:8-10) – Proverbs 28:13: “He who conceals his sins will not prosper” • The dread of exposure reveals an awareness that the deeds are wrong Inner Condition Revealed • Conscience is active enough to fear judgment (Romans 2:15) • Yet the will is stubborn enough to cling to darkness (John 12:46) • This mixture points to moral culpability: sinners know but still choose Contrast: Coming to the Light • Verse 21: “Whoever practices the truth comes to the light…” • True faith welcomes exposure because God’s work is evident • The contrast highlights that evil resists accountability; righteousness embraces it Takeaways for Today • Habitual sin breeds hostility to biblical truth • Refusal to engage Scripture or Christian community can signal hidden sin • Openness before God and others is a mark of genuine repentance (1 John 1:6-7) Living in the Light • Invite God’s searchlight: “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23-24) • Confess quickly; secrecy strengthens sin (James 5:16) • Walk transparently, relying on Christ’s cleansing blood (1 John 1:9) |
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