Brotherhood

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." (Psalm 133: 1-3 KJV)

"Let brotherly love continue." (Hebrews 13: 1 KJV)

The above verses speak of Brotherhood and Fraternity. They speak of the love and fellowship that exists between brothers, between members of the same family, be it the small immediate family, or the larger extended family.

The scriptures speak of several brotherhoods. There is of course what is called the "brotherhood of man." This is because all men are descendents of a single couple, of Adam and Eve. Wrote Paul:

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." (Acts 17: 24-26 NIV)

Seeing that all descend from Adam, and from Eve, who is called the "mother of all living" (Genesis 3: 20 KJV), all men are therefore "brothers." Being brothers, men are to treat each other as brothers, to "let brotherly love continue." Sadly, very few men practice it regularly. The world today is much like the land of Israel to whom the prophet said - "Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders." (Jeremiah 9: 4 KJV)

The Psalm cited above, though short, is pregnant with great truths about many things, including brotherhood. Brethren dwelling together is one thought. That in itself ought to be enough to imply unity and joy. But, in our fallen world, brethren or family members simply "dwelling together" under the same roof does not in itself indicate that the members are all happy about it, or that they enjoy one another's company. So, the thought is added to include, not simply brothers living together, but living together in harmony, and in peace and joy.

When brothers are dwelling together in harmony and in oneness of spirit, and when their interests and aims are one, it is then both a "pleasant" and a "good" (profitable) thing.

The prophet asked - "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3: 3 KJV)

"Walking together" connotes friendship and companionship and something people choose to do with another because they enjoy the time spent with that person.

"For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (I John 3: 11, 12 KJV)

Cain was the first person to hate his brother instead of loving him. Abel showed brotherly love to Cain, but Cain did not reciprocate. Ever since then the vast majority of mankind has "gone in the way of Cain" (Jude 1: 11 KJV), a way that includes hating and killing one's brother, rather than loving him. Today we find the same scene acted out in that the unrighteous, as Cain, show no brotherly love, especially to those who are righteous or better than they.

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." (Romans 12: 10 KJV)

Notice how kindness and an affectionate heart are manifested and shown in fraternal love. Notice also that part of brotherly love is the "preferring" of one another. How pleasant is such a family environment! How lovely the place where family members prefer the other over themselves! Selfishness is no part of brotherly love, but hospitality is a part of it. Brothers share and give willingly and happily. They do not grudge helping their own.

"Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (I Peter 2: 17 NIV)

Here is another brotherhood, a spiritual fraternity of believers in Jesus. Notice that Peter does not say "love the brotherhood of man," or of the brotherhood of the world, or of the brotherhood of unbelievers. Why is this? Is he saying that believers ought not to love the brotherhood of man? Why did Peter not say - "love the brotherhood of man, especially the brotherhood of believers"?

He is not denying that brotherly love is to be shown to all men. What he is denying is that true brotherhood exists in the world of sinful men, or among unbelievers.

The term "brotherhood" has lost is quality of excellence and spirituality, for it has become a brotherhood of a wicked family. Yes, today we hear about those who are "brothers in arms," in warfare, or who are "brothers in adversity," and such terms; however, they too often mean nothing more than what we might call "honor among thieves," being a kind of evil brotherhood, a gross oxymoron. Evil and violent street gangs today might call their associations together a brotherhood, but to the degree that their is lacking genuine kindness, love, and affection for the well being of the other members, there is no real brotherly love, but such only in name.

"While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!" (Matthew 12: 46-49 KJV)

"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." (Matthew 23: 8 KJV)

Thus the natural family of man is distinguished from the spiritual family of God. The family of God has one master, the Lord Jesus Christ, and all believers are members of that family.

"And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (II Peter 1: 7 KJV)

The kindness of brothers! Who can describe it? Fraternal love!

"And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren." (Genesis 13: 8 KJV)

"For he (Moses) supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?" (Acts 7: 25-27 KJV)

For brothers and family members to have strife and division is so very ugly and unbecoming! So unpleasant and "no good."

In the above two verses, both Abraham and Moses showed how they valued and understood the meaning of "brotherly love." The verses also show how very little of fraternal love was shown among the Israelites towards each other. They were anything but brothers in the way they treated each other daily. Still, we ought to follow the example of Abraham and Moses and do all we can to bring about godly harmony in families and among brotherhoods.

"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth." (Deuteronomy 15: 7, 8 KJV)

"And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?" (Numbers 32: 6 KJV)

Brothers care for one another. They do things for one another. They are unwilling for others in the family to have to suffer or bear burdens alone.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17: 17 NIV)

"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." (Proverbs 6: 16-19 KJV)

If brotherly love is so highly valued, then all efforts to eliminate it are highly sinful. Lord God hates all efforts to lesson fraternity, and all those who divide brethren. On the other hand, he praises those individuals who promote brotherly love and kindness, and peace within families.

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25: 40 KJV)

Men will be judged for their level of brotherhood shown in life, especially to the body of believers, the true brethren of the Lord Jesus.

"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." (Mark 10: 29, 30 KJV)

Becoming Christian will often bring one persecution, and will sometimes cause one to be hated and rejected even by his natural family. Jesus told such people that they would be rewarded with new "brothers," gained from their entering into the family of God.

"And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage." (Galatians 2: 4 KJV)

Not all those who are professing believers, who appear to be members of the spiritual brotherhood of Christ, are actually what they profess to be. There are "false brethren."

"Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge." (James 4: 11 KJV)

It is no part of brotherly love to be always judging and condemning one's brothers. Brethren love one another, and prefer one another, and so they do not speak evil of their brothers. It is very unbecoming to see this practiced in families and in brotherhoods.

"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." (I Peter 1: 22 KJV)

"Unfeigned brotherly love" implies that there is a brotherly love that is "feigned" and insincere. However, unfeigned fraternal love is the result and product of a purified soul, of obeying the truth.

"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." (I John 3: 14 KJV)

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (I John 3: 16 KJV)

"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (I Thessalonians 4: 9 KJV)

To have love for others, especially for the "brotherhood of believers," is a chief evidence and proof that one is indeed a brother in that spiritual family of God. No one can learn how to show brotherly love except as God, through his word and Spirit, teaches them to do so. Such a fraternal love in the heart is proof that we are spiritually alive and is what causes us to put the well being of our brothers ahead of our own. What love is this!

"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." (I Peter 3: 8 KJV)