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What does the Bible say about brothers and sisters?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that brothers and sisters are to be loved, honored, served, and treated as fellow image-bearers, especially within the family of faith. Christians must not despise or judge one another, since each person will give an account to God, as Romans 14:10-12 teaches. 1 John 4:20 makes love for fellow believers a necessary evidence of love for God, while James 5:16 calls believers to confess sins and pray for one another. James 2:14-17 warns that genuine faith shows itself in practical care for needy brothers and sisters. Scripture also honors family relationships through the command to honor father and mother in Exodus 20:12 and Matthew 19:19. Above all, Christ alone saves, making all believers one household through faith in him.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Romans 14:10-12 10 votes

    [10] But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.'" [12] So then each one of us will give account of himself to God.

  • 1 John 4:20 10 votes

    If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

  • James 5:16 9 votes

    Confess your offenses to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effective, earnest prayer of a righteous man is powerfully effective.

  • James 2:14-17 7 votes

    [14] What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? [15] And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, [16] and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it? [17] Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

  • Psalms 69:8 6 votes

    I have become a stranger to my brothers, An alien to my mother's children.

  • Exodus 20:12 4 votes

    "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.

  • Matthew 7:7 3 votes

    "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.

  • Matthew 19:19 3 votes

    'Honor your father and mother.' And, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

  • John 3:36 2 votes

    One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

  • Acts 4:12 2 votes

    There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!"

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