| What are the two great commandments? |
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What are the two great commandments and what do they mean? In Matt.22:36 one of the Pharisees an expert on the law asked Jesus this question trying to trick Him. And in Matt.22:37-40 Jesus gives the answer. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like the first,you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matt.22:36-39 are often quoted but verse 40 is often omitted. Let's add verse 40, On these two commandments hang all the Law and all the prophets. What do you think He was talking about? What Law is He speaking of here? The answer is found in the greak word translated to Law, Strong's Concordance number 3551 Nemo, meaning, specifically of particular laws,statutes, ordinances, spoken in the New Testament mostly of the Mosaic Law or Torah. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Old Testament. Now in the Pentateuch and in the books of the prophets are found the words of many men like Adam, Noah, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel and many more. But that's not what Jesus is talking about, He is speaking about every word that God spoke, not man! Let's paraphrase Matt.22:40 And these two commandments are the sum or the meaning of everthing that God commanded. In Matt.4:4 Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 saying, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds (or comes out of) the mouth of God. This says, live by every word that God has spoken. In Matt. 5:17 Jesus also says Think not that I am come to destroy (or do away with) the Law or the prophets: I am not come destroy (or do away with) but to fulfil. The greek word translated fulfil is Strong's Concordance number 4137 pleroso meaning, to fillup or in this case to bring to full meaning! Let me ask you do you think that the Ten commandments can ever be done away with. Again in Matt.5:18 Jesus said: For truly I say to you, till Heaven and earth pass, one letter or mark shall not pass from the Law till all be fullfilled. Well, has Heaven or earth pased away? Let's take a look at the Ten Commandments
1.Thou (or you) shall have no other gods before me. (This means no other gods before His eyes or at all!)
2.Thou shall not worship any graven image.
3.Thou shall not take God's name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy
5.Honor your father and mother.
6.Thou shall not murder.
7.Thou not commit adultery.
8.Thou shall not steal.
9.Thou shall not bear false witness
10.Thou shall not covet. (or lust after anyone or anything that belongs to or neighbor)
Notice I have divided them up in two catagories, the first four are to tell us how to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul (or life) and with all our mind. And the last six tell us how to love our neighbor as ourselves! Do you see how those two great commandments sum up the Ten Commandments. And let me assure you that the Ten Commandments sumup, not do away with all the Law and all the prophets. No man has the authority to change or do away with any of God's Word! Deuteronomy 4:2 Says You Shall not add to the word which I command you neither shall you take away from it, that you may obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I commanded you. And Revelation 22:18-19 reads For I swear to every man that hears the words of this teaching of this book, if any man shall add to these things, God shall add to him yhe plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this teaching, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the Holy city, and the things which are written in this book. And that's my message for today, and may God keep you until we reach the end!
Pastor Bob Farr of The Philadelphia Church |
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