The Law and love are mistakenly seen as being in conflict with one another. The law is seen as a rigid system of rules to be followed. While love is seen as an expression of grace – God’s unmerited favor towards us. What the Bible teaches us is that the Law actually defines love and that love is the fulfillment of the law.
Jesus was asked about the commandments of God: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love Yehovah your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”(Matthew 22:36-40)
Jesus’ answer immediately raises another question. How do I show God I love Him? The answer is: obey His commandments. Moses defined loving God in Deuteronomy 11:1, “Love Yehovah and always carry out his requirements, his statutes, his ordinances, and his commandments.” This truth is repeated in Deuteronomy 30:16, “I command you today to love Yehovah your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments...”
The Apostle John affirms this truth when he wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3).
Jesus taught that obedience to His commands is also how we show our love to Him. He clearly states, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” and “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me…If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word (commandment); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words (commandments)” (John 14:15, 21, 23-24).
Unlike the Pharisees who loaded down the people with man-made rules and regulations Jesus said that fulfilling His commandments was not burdensome. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
Obedience is how we show love and please both Yehovah and Jesus. The good news is that He empowers us be able to do this, “For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13).
Finally, Jesus commanded us to teach others to love Him through obedience, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
God will reward our efforts. “Know therefore that Yehovah your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9).
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.