The Greatest Commands

From the outside, Christianity can seem like a whole bunch of impossible rules to follow which hold us back from experiencing life's pleasures.  It is true that it is impossible on our own to follow the rules perfectly (Romans 3:23); however, the Bible clearly teaches that the Christian walk is about a heart condition; God is much more interested in the motivation for our actions than our actions alone.

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. - Mark 12:28-34

This passage teaches that obedience to God is first and foremost love which is directed toward God first and then to others.  This love for God is not to be held back, it is to be expressed through our entire being,  our heart, soul, mind, and spirit.  However, we are used to love in our personal relationships, but  he is not like a person whom we could hug and show affection for  so how does one love God?

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. - John 14:21

This sounds a little like circular reasoning, but it is not.  If you love someone, do you not consider their desires and well-being before your own?  Consider the following paraphrase of the ten commandments from Exodus 20 (similarly from Deuteronomy 5).  As you read them, keep in mind that by obeying these commands you are showing your love for God.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols (you shall not bow down to them or serve them).
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet (your neighbor's house, wife, servants, ox, donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's).

Consider the first four commands - keeping these commands honors God and shows your love for him because you are putting him first in your life.  Man was made to worship - we all have the desire to raise up something in our lives as worthy of our greatest attention.  Worshiping anything other than God (money, fame, sex, possessions, etc) is not showing love to God.  God created the physical things in this world for the good of man so that man might give God glory for them, but the fallen nature of man instead worships the created things instead.

Now consider the remaining six commands.  You can keep these commands simply by showing unconditional love to others; this means loving others more than your self.  For example, you would not murder (also get angry at, Matt. 5:21), steal from, lie about, or take your neighbors wife (also lust after, Matt. 5:28) if you truly loved them.  In the context of these commands, consider the "golden rule" as Jesus stated it:

 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. - Matthew 7:12

In practice we typically omit the second half of this sentence, "for this is the Law and the Prophets".  This is truly a profound and foundational statement.   Read again the greatest commandments as written in Matthew:

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:34-40

Again Jesus tells us that the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.  Here is what Matthew Henry comments on this:

This is the sum and substance of all those precepts relating to practical religion which were written in men’s hearts by nature, revived by Moses, and backed and enforced by the preaching and writing of the prophets. All hang upon the law of love; take away this, and all falls to the ground, and comes to nothing. Rituals and ceremonials must give way to these, as must all spiritual gifts, for love is the more excellent way. This is the spirit of the law, which animates it, the cement of the law, which joins it; it is the root and spring of all other duties, the compendium of the whole Bible, not only of the law and the prophets, but of the gospel too, only supposing this love to be the fruit of faith, and that we love God in Christ, and our neighbour for his sake. All hangs on these two commandments, as the effect doth both on its efficient and on its final cause; for the fulfilling of the law is love (Rom. 13:10) and the end of the law is love, 1 Tim. 1:5. The law of love is the nail, is the nail in the sure place, fastened by the masters of assemblies (Eccl. 12:11), on which is hung all the glory of the law and the prophets (Isa. 22:24), a nail that shall never be drawn; for on this nail all the glory of the new Jerusalem shall eternally hang. Love never faileth. Into these two great commandments therefore let our hearts be delivered as into a mould; in the defence and evidence of these let us spend our zeal, and not in notions, names, and strifes of words, as if those were the mighty things on which the law and the prophets hung, and to them the love of God and our neighbour must be sacrificed; but to the commanding power of these let every thing else be made to bow.  -Matthew Henry's Commentary - Matthew 22:40

Who is my "neighbor" that I must love?

It is easy to love those who please us, those we get along well with, those who show care for us, but it is much harder to love those who may believe something different (ex: liberal vs. conservative) or say hurtful things.  So who is the "neighbor" that Jesus tells us we must love?  Jesus does such a good job of answering this question that I will provide his answer here:

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” -Luke 10:25-37 

The Samaritan's were hated by the Jews and would have been considered an enemy.  Where the priest and Levite failed (considered the greatest of men), the enemy prevailed in love.  The following two passages provide additional insight into loving your enemies:

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. - Matthew 5:38-42 

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:43-48

Christ not only taught that a man must love his neighbor, but he demonstrated how to love your enemy as your neighbor.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:6-8

Practical ways to love God

It may be challenging at first to sort out how to show love to God in practical ways.  Because of Jesus Christ we have direct communion with God, there is no fear going to God as we would our earthy father.  He is a personal God so treat him as you would your best friend.  Here are some ways that I have found helpful to show God my love for him.

1. Read His word, learn about Him.
   
   1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. -Psalm 1:1-2
   
2. Speak with Him, confess your sins and go to Him for comfort.
   
   6Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.- Isaiah 55:6-7
   
3. Pray to Him when you are in need.
   
   4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:4-7
   
4. Worship Him and give Him glory.
   
   23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. 28 Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; 30 tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" 32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! 33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. 34 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! - 1 Chronicles 16:23-34
   
5. Tell others about Him.
   
   But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. -1 Peter 3:15
   
6. Show His love to others that they might desire to experience it directly.
   
   16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. -1 John 3:16-18