He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him.
Many differ over whether the stumbling-block is in the way of the one loving or the one loved. The Bible definitely teaches that a Christian is not to put a stumbling block in his brother’s way (Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 8:9); however, a strong case can be made that in this passage it must refer to one who is walking in the light of love. The fact that he has a settled love dwelling in his heart and apparent in his life makes him less liable to fall into a trap that might result in his spiritual downfall. A lack of love leaves one open to malice, envy, hatred, revenge, pride, intolerance, and other sins of the heart that are snares of the devil, ready to spring to his undoing. He literally "sets a trap" for himself. While love will never put a stumbling block in another’s way to cause him to fall, it also prevents the one who loves from falling into many temptations.