Love as the Foundation of God’s Commands
God gave us many commandments to follow if we are to abide in His will, but He singled out two that form the basis of all the rest.If we go to Matthew 22:34–40 (NKJV):
34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
There is that last line: on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. But why would it be those two?
A Recap of the Ten Commandments
Let us have a quick recap of the Ten Commandments that Moses carried down from Mount Sinai after spending more than forty days and nights waiting on the Lord, without a single grain of food:
- You shall have no other gods before Me.
- You shall not make any idols to worship.
- You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not kill (murder).
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness (lie).
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
These are not the only commands God left for the Israelites. There are many more in Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and elsewhere. However, we focus on these ten because of the story behind them.If you look closely through them and begin reading between the lines, it becomes obvious why Jesus emphasized love as the greatest of all: love for the Lord your God, and love for your neighbors—even your enemy. These are the greatest.
Love as the Reason We Were Saved
Love is the reason you were saved, even while you were still a sinner. Through love, Christ stooped down and became human, just to die for you and me. This love of God for His people (Israel) is seen when He sent Moses to rescue them from slavery. In His love for us—for you—He gave us life and made us overseers of His property (the earth and all its creations) through Adam.That is why Paul emphasized it in 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (NKJV):
The Greatest Gift
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love Makes All the Difference
Indeed, love is the master of all things. For even out of love did God give us eternal life. In it we were set free and set upon high places as sons of God.So, in all that you do, no matter how good or great, if you do these good deeds without love, it counts for nothing. Though if you are limited in certain aspects—whether financially, physically, or in talent—but have love for your neighbor as you do for yourself, then you have done enough. For love perfects. It makes whole. And as Paul put it, only love really makes a difference.
