There was some discussion a few days ago on “following the law.” I didn’t mean to imply that the law was bad, only that we were no longer “slaves” to it. The law in it’s entirety pointed out that we are sinful creatures and none of us can keep the law in it’s entirety. Apart from Jesus, we can’t do anything!
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:15 (NASB)
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in the law was, He replied,
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37 - 40 (NASB)
For us to follow the myriads of laws, commandments and/or the tradition of the Rabbis we would have to be “brainiacs” to simply remember what they are. Jesus, when He came “fulfilled” the law and we, through Him, may accomplish the same.
Jesus did not set us to thinking about all those little “pieces” of what is considered law, but gave us a one-word prescription…love. Paul summarizes that thought in Romans 13:8-10 (NASB),
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
So, when we are tempted to do something out of selfishness or to prove we are right or for any other motive than love…we are not merely breaking the law but the heart of Jesus, the One who died a horrible death on the cross for our sin. Love Him and love each other with God’s kind of love. That will fix the problem!
SEEK FIRST THE
