Pastor A

The Ten Commandments may be divided into two sections. The first section (Commandments 1-4) deals with man’s relationship to God as instructed in Exodus 20:

“3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.“

The second section (Commandments 5-10) deals with man’s relationship to man:

“9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.“

Love is the key to obeying all Biblical principles. I sure know I am not perfect; but this is a great reminder to all of us of the importance of still obeying God’s commands for the believer.

Undoubtedly the most beautiful prose ever written about love is found in the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians. This chapter reveals the majesty, power, and influence of love; it compares love with two other virtues: faith and hope. The chapter concludes that though faith and hope are important, still “the greatest of all is love.”

Love is the mark of the Christian. Imagine the scene: the disciples are solemn and puzzled as they listen to Jesus’ final instructions before His arrest, trial and death. For more than three years these twelve men have been with Him, and still they are not ready for all that is going to happen. He speaks words of comfort and encouragement to them. One thing He says to these twelve men is: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35

Jesus did not say that the world would know them as disciples because of their eloquent sermons, Bible knowledge or church activities. Instead, they would be known by their love for one another. The true test was in their personal relationships.

Down through the centuries, Christians have tried to identify themselves in many unusual ways. They have worn special clothing and jewelry. Some have even distinguished themselves by certain kinds of haircuts. Perhaps God has led some Christians to do such things. But the one identifying mark of the Christian which fits every generation is the one Jesus singled out: genuine love.

Love is even mentioned as the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” These nine qualities are evidences which show up in a life controlled by the Holy Spirit. Some Bible scholars suggest that the fruit of the Spirit is love and the other eight qualities are by-products of this love. Regardless, the emphasis is placed on love.

Matthew 22:34-40 relates an experience in Jesus’ ministry in which He presented a new perspective of the Ten Commandments. A brilliant Jewish lawyer had tried to put Jesus on the spot by asking Him this profound question: “Which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus silenced this young attorney by saying in verses 37-40,

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.“

Jesus answered the question by summarizing the Ten Commandments in two commandments. Then He added a “P.S.” to His answer: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” In other words obedience to these two is the same as obedience to all ten!