1 John 5:3

3. αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν. ‘This is what it tends towards; this is its outcome’: see on 1 John 1:5. Love implies obedience. Comp. John 14:15; John 14:21; John 14:23; John 15:10; 2 John 1:6. For ἵνα comp. John 6:29; John 17:3; 2 John 1:6.

βαρεῖαι οὐκ εἰσίν. For three reasons: 1. Because He gives us strength to bear them; juvat qui jubet (Philippians 4:13); 2. Because of the greatness of the reward—πρὸς τὴν μέλλουσαν δόξαν (Romans 8:18); 3. Because love makes them light; dilige et quod vis fac (Augustine). They are not like the ‘burdens grievous to be borne’ which the legal rigour of the Pharisees laid on men’s consciences. Here again we have an echo of the Master’s words: ‘My yoke is easy, and My burden is light’ (Matthew 11:30).