Bible Boot Camp Week 2: On these two Commandments hang ALL the law and prophets.

Last week we dealt with Fear.
This week i would like to focus in on a few things the Messiah (Jesus) said out of His own mouth, while he walked the earth.

A question was posed to Jesus in Matthew chapter 22. Which is the great commandment "in the law"? His response was, "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. This is the first and great commandment." (Matthew 22:35-38 KJV)

Before we go any further, notice that Jesus DID NOT say "I'm going to nail the law to the cross, so don't worry about the commandments." Or, "Once i am resurrected, you won't even have to worry about any laws." Neither did Jesus mention that the laws were only for the Jews, and the Christian church will have to do something different to get salvation.
Now, for all those that didn't know, Jesus did not make this answer up on the spot. There was nothing, "new," in His response. Any person familiar with the scriptures (back then, or now) knows that Jesus is quoting the law!

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV)
And again it was written: "And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul..." (Deuteronomy 11:13 KJV)
Normally, educated people would call this plagiarism, however, since one of Jesus's titles is 'The Word' and since he dictated what was to be written to every author, we can see, that He jus came in the flesh repeating exactly what He had been saying to the children of Israel since Moses led them thru the wilderness.
We should all be surprised that Jesus wasn't annoyed at the question! (Maybe that is why the Bible points out that the question was to tempt Him.)
Before we finish the conversation, the question begs to be asked, how do you love God?? Any woman will tell you, just because you say you love someone, doesn't mean anything, if your words aren't backed up with actions!

Jesus went on to say, "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:38-40 KJV)

We are so fortunate, that the Bible is able to interpret itself, so let us investigate this...
Let us turn to the 10 commandments and see if we can gain some understanding, "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 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: 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; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 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. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 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: 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. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:1-12 KJV)
This is how you Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

If you love God, then you will:
1. Have no other gods before him; 
2. You won't make any 'graven' images that represent Him. (This means pictures, paintings, sculptures and say it's Him), (no crosses, star of David, rosary beads, stars & moons etc. and try and say it represents Him. All of these things are made with engraving instruments! 
3. You won't take his name in vain; 
4. You will remember HIS Sabbath Day (the seventh day of the week) to keep it HOLY! 
5. You will 'honor' your father and mother, because they are your representatives of the Father and Jesus on this earth (to put the fear of God in you). [maybe this is why so many kids die early, no honor for father and mother.]

This easy explanation of how to love God, is the Apostle Paul refereed to as the simplicity in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)
Easy to understand.
As for the 2nd part of the conversation, to Love thy neighbor as thyself... Men and women always debate the definition of Love, how can we possibly interpret Love to every other human being on the planet.
The Law and the prophets teach us the details of Jesus statement (like He alluded to).
"Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 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." (Exodus 20:13-17 KJV)

If you truly love your neighbor, you will:
1. Not kill him/her. 
2. Not commit adultery with him/her's husband/wife. 
3. Not steal from her/him. 
4. Not bear false witness (lie on) her/him. 
5. Not covet anything that is anyone else's.

Disagree?
Feel free to leave a comment with your 'Biblical Definition' of Love for God and/or your neighbor.


May theLord add a blessing to the reading and studying of His word in Jesus name.

Locksmif... Knowledge is the key

Galatians 5:14