Greatest Commandment, Love, Service

Chapter 03 The Fruit Of The Spirit

The Greatest Commandment

(Mat 22:35-40; Mar 12:28-34; Luk 10:25-28)

The Background

The enemies of Jesus were always tempting Him to sin, to show Him up as a false teacher, to embarrass Him in whatever way they could, especially when he was in a crowd.

1. On one occasion it was the Pharisees who sent out their disciples with the Herodians, that they “might entangle him in his talk.” They flattered him by beginning, “Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.” This was true, of course, but I doubt that they meant it as a sincere compliment. Then they posed a question that was sure to provoke controversy in this Roman dominated environment. “What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.” (Mat. 22).

2. On the very same day it was the Sadducees’ turn. They did not believe in the resurrection, and posed a seemingly unanswerable problem about seven brothers who had been husband to one woman. They wanted to know, “Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.“ Jesus handled this with an easy answer, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. MAT 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Mat 22). And again, they were astonished at his doctrine.

3. Now it is the Pharisees turn again. Matthew records that “when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together, then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Now surely this was a debatable question, and sure to stir up controversy. But Jesus, without a moment’s hesitation, answered:

“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. 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.”

And so he gave them more than they had asked for, which was typical of his teaching. Much of Jesus’ teaching was of the “counter-punching” kind. He rarely ever created a controversy, but, he handled every questioner in a masterful way.

Mark records the same instances, except this time (Mar 12:28) it was one of the scribes that brings up the question of the “first commandment of all.” And Jesus answers, “The first of all the commandments is, . . . The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

In this instance the scribe responds, “Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” (v.34). And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.

Luke's context is that of Jesus preparing his disciples for their great work, when a lawyer stands up and asks about eternal life. In Like 10:25ff, “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”

I. Where From?

Now where did these Jews, the Scribe, and the Lawyer, get this insight?

It has always been interesting to me that God did not command of Adam and Eve that they “love” him. They were given – according to the Record – a very few commands. But, from a practical viewpoint, how was it possible that they could not, and would not, love him with all their very being? What he gave them was “very good,” but according to Satan, not good enough! Is this the way it is with us under Christ today? Keep studying until God in the form of His Word and His Holy Spirit is given to pentitent, obedient believers today. Everything that was lost in Adam has been returned in Christ.

God tried to make it clear when he gave the Law by Moses, that obedience was mandatory, and that love of Him was paramount, and love of brethren was inescapably binding:

Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Lev 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

So, when Jesus was questioned, these commandments of love of God and brethren had been in God’s Law to Moses for nearly 15 hundred years, and they should have known them. But, in many instances they failed to practice them.

II. Jesus Makes It Clear

In each of these statements surely Jesus makes it clear that there is one commandment that is greater than all other commandments. This commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. He says that the second - in greatness and priority - is to love one's neighbor as himself. Matthew records that Jesus said, "on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (v.40). Mark records that the scribe said, and Jesus did not deny it, that to obey these two commandments is "more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices" (v.33), and Jesus said that one who complies with this law is not "far from the kingdom of God" (v.34). Luke records that Jesus said that those who obey this commandment shall inherit eternal life. He "shall live" (v.28), He says.

No hesitation, Equivocation, Hedging or Dodging:

Please observe that this answer, apparently given with no hesitation, equivocation, hedging or dodging, is so explicit as to leave no room for misunderstanding on the part of any, even the most ignorant. Even a child can understand and obey it. And, at the same time, it is so all-comprehensive, that no thought of the human mind can conceive of any duty which it does not include.

Did Not Command Some Marvelous Thing Or Work For Israel:

His answer was not to perform some marvelous work; not to offer, upon bloody altars, the cattle upon a thousand hills; not to do painful penance, or torture ourselves with cruel scourgings, and starve ourselves with protracted fastings; but simply to love him with all our heart, and soul, and mind. This is all. To love him, the adorable Father. And who should not love him, who made us all, preserves us all, every moment of our being, and provides for us every blessing that earth can give or heart desire?

III. In Preparing His Apostles, They Were Commanded

At the Last Passover, recorded in John 14, 15, & 16, when Jesus was meeting with his apostles, he gave them commandments concerning their relationship to one another. He said:

John 14:15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments. ... 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

John 15:9 ¶ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

IV. What About Us Today?

Now someone might say, “Well, if this was only to the 11 (Judas had left) that Jesus said this, and this was under the Jewish Dispensation, what about us today?

First, and most important, there have been great truths, commands and principles from the beginning of mankind down to the end that must be known and obeyed by all men of all ages. God has been, is now, and will ever be, God! He cannot change. And now, the Word became flesh, Jesus is Lord and will continue to be until the end of time. (Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.)

A. To show the force of this great universal principle in this present dispensation, hear the great apostle Paul:

(1) "Owe no man anything but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13:8-10)

(2) Love causes one to serve his brethren. To the Galatians Paul said:

GAL 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. GAL 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Gal. 5:13,14).

(3) The practice of our very faith is a work of love. Just as Jesus told his apostles, so Paul says to us today:

GAL 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircum-cision; but faith which worketh by love."

Faith and love are grouped together repeatedly in the New Testament, as for example:

To the Ephesians and Colossians Paul says that he does not cease to give thanks for them, and prays for them, "after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints" (Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4).

To Philemon he gives his prayers, "hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints" (Phil. 1:5).

He prays for the Ephesians, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love" (3:17). As he completed his letter to these he pronounced a blessing, Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (6:23).

In his introduction to the Thessalonians says: "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love" (1 Thess. 1:3). He exhorts these, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love" (5:8).

Paul speaks of his salvation to Timothy, "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 1:14). He exhorts Timothy to "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:13).

ITI 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

James makes a powerful statement connecting faith and love: JAM 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

B. Paul stresses that love is greater than spiritual gifts. (See 1 Cor. 12,13,14.)

To those blessed with spiritual gifts then, with their teaching confirmed by marvelous works, Paul states these were inferior to the possession of the first fruit of the Holy Spirit, love. The supernatural gift age has passed today, but the principle is still in force:

1CO 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling 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, and have not charity, I am nothing. 1CO 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

All kinds of clubs, associations and groups that honor production goals, financial gifts, academic attainment, beauty acknowledgments, etc., in this modern competitive world, are inferior to those deeds done by love. The credo today is win, win, win! Win fairly if you can, but in all cases WIN! (Do we remember the mother who killed a girl so her daughter could be on the cheerleader squad? Do we remember the Olympic skating star who had a rival star literally crippled so she could win! What about the drug scandals going on now?)

C. What More Could We Do?

One thing more: the love of our neighbor. Our blessed Lord says the second commandment is like the first, and when we consider the character of our Heavenly Father, we see it must be so. He is, essentially and eternally, Love, and he would have his creatures, whom he originally formed in his own likeness and after his own image, to be like him in love. He so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son to die for lost, undone, perishing humanity; and can we love him with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and not love the being for whose salvation he spared not his own Son, but gave him up freely to the death, that they might not perish, but have everlasting life? No, my brethren. Truly is the second commandment like the first, and we must also love our neighbor as our self. We cannot love God, as required in the commandment, without it.

V. The Implication

Would it be unreasonable then to conclude that the failure of the human race to live up to God's expectations is because we -- to some degree -- have neglected these two greater commandments? I conclude that it is true beyond reasonable doubt!

A. Students of the Scriptures know that there are important truths revealed by the Saviour and there are more important truths revealed. As one of many cases in point:

MAT 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

And, to begin to become what we ought to become, we must strive ever more diligently to do the all important thing, the first and greatest thing. No one can argue that one of the first things, an all-important thing - is to learn to love God and our brother.

VI. Let's consider two aspects of the subject of the "greatest" commandment of all commandments.

A. First, to love God and our fellow man must be given the emphasis it rightfully deserves, and, Second, to love God and our fellow man must be the basis of all other commandments.

1. The Over-emphasis Of The Less Important Results In The Neglect Of The More Important.

2. Let's consider the matter of emphasis. It is reasonable to conclude that when we fail to emphasize the greater thing in our religion, we tend to emphasize the lesser thing.

3. In so doing we literally create false doctrines. We establish false concepts, which are the basis of a false faith. We practice inferior standards of conduct. This is one of the very first steps in creating a human system of religion. No false religion ever got started by doing the most important things, but to the contrary, they began to "major in minors," hobbies and quirks. And, what happened to the other end? They necessarily began to "minor in majors," it is often said. This was one of the major faults with the Jews in the day of Jesus. It continues to plague the human race today.

B. Examples:

1. Let's take the example of the Jews's traditions concerning the washing of hands. Mark explains this fully in Chapter 7:

MAR 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.

Naturally the Jewish leaders expected one claiming to be a Teacher Of Israel to conform to their traditions, and so they ask Jesus:

MAR 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

But hear Jesus' answer:

MAR 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Now Jesus never indicted any one without giving them an example. Hear Him:

MAR 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Then He teaches an important lesson that they needed to learn, and so do we:

MAR 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

He had to re-teach this to His own disciples:

MAR 7:17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

2. On another occasion Jesus was invited to dine with a Pharisee, and the same lesson was taught. The story is told in Luke 11:37ff. The Pharisees were the "spiritual athletes of Israel," modern scholars say. They tried to carry obedience of the law of Moses to its ultimate degree. Now this is certainly commendable. To obey the law of God to the fullest. This is always good. But Jesus on this occasion made a mistake -- a social "faux pas." He did something that socially, and culturally, was unacceptable. He failed to wash his hands in a ceremonial washing characteristic of Jewish custom before he sat down to eat. It was not to clean the dirt from his hands. I don't think that Jesus would have sat down with dirty hands, especially in a guest's home. Luke says that when the Pharisee saw it, "he marveled." He was amazed. How serious was this offense? This gave Jesus an opportunity teach a most important lesson. Listen to how the Lord answered this man:

"And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone" (Luke 11:39-42).

[Matthew says that they neglected "judgment, mercy, and faith." But both establish the fact that they had substituted relatively minor observances for major commandments. They had emphasized small details of a ritual and at the same time missed the very point of Godliness.]

3. On yet another occasion the same charge about the breaking of the Jew's ceremonial law of washing hands before eating was made. What did Jesus say to these leaders of Israel:

MAT 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? . . . Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. . . . (and quoting Isaiah) 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

What did his own disciples say about this?

MAT 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

How did Jesus answer them?

MAT 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Important doctrine? Listen again:

"Transgressed the commandments of God by their traditions." . . . "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."

4. As another example, let's consider the incident when Jesus' disciples plucked and ate grain on the Sabbath:

MAT 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Now I don't think that Jesus went around looking for trouble, but He would face up to it when he needed to. Here the Pharisees began to rebuke Him, to show his displeasure in Jesus breaking a ceremonial law of the Sabbath, and Jesus uses the opportunity to hit him "square between the eyes."

"You insist on ceremonial law," He might have said, "but what about what's going on on the inside?" Your inward parts. Is your skin more important than your heart? Isn't your spirit as important as your body?

We can rightly conclude, it would seem, that when one begins to overemphasize the minor parts - to "major in minors and minor in majors' -as they say, while under-emphasizing the more important parts of the law of Christ, it is but to cut the heart and soul out of true Christianity. This is probably the greatest fault that the human race has committed down through the ages.

VII. Love Is The Basis Of All Other Commandments

A. It would appear that love is the basis of all other commandments? Jesus thought so!

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. . . . John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

But someone might say that this was under the Law of Moses, or that Jesus was talking only to his special disciples. So, we consider the New Covenant, and to the general command.

B. Serving our fellowman is commanded; of this there is no doubt. (See Matt. 25:35ff.; Eph. 4:28; 2:10; James 2:14-26; 1 John 3:17; etc.)

1. Jesus teaches his Jewish contemporaries what is going to happen at the Judgment scene:

MAT 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

2. Paul tells the Ephesians under the New Covenant:

EPH 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. . . . EPH 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

3. James confirms this truth concerning benevolence:

JAM 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

4. John further confirms:

1JO 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

5. But this must be done by love.

A. "By love serve one another," says Paul (Gal. 5:13). And this love cannot be faked; it cannot be counterfeited. Virtually all other commands in the New Testament can be done simply by physical act, whether they be sincere or not. The items of worship can be engaged in physically, without sincerity. Acts of service can be done physically, without sincerity. Paul even said that 'Some preach Christ even of envy and strife. (Phi 1:15). Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: PHI 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: Others do so "of love," said he.

B. And since love must be the basis of all commandments, how sad it is that so much is done that amounts to little or nothing, because of the wrong motive.

IIX. Love Will Outlast All Other Commands

These commands bring joy and peace to us who obey, both here and forever. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?", says Paul.

"Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ROM 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ROM 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ROM 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul says: "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity" (1 Cor. 13:13). Love will last as long as God will last and that is forever. Our love for brethren will last as long as our relationship will last and this forever. Love of God and love of brethren is enjoyable now and forevermore.

And so we have these three reasons why love of God and love of neighbor are the greatest of all commandments.

IX. Love’s Results

But one might ask: "What is the result of love; what does love cause to happen?" Let's observe what the Holy Spirit says about this:

A. Love Motivates Us to Know the Truth.

1. Jesus said, "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God . . ." (John 7:17). If any man wants to do; if any man loves to do; if any man desires to do God's will, he will come to know that will. Jesus says so! To those Jews who would not listen to him, Jesus said: "I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you" (John 5:42). "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts (desires, loves, wants) of your father ye will do" (John 8:44).

2. From the very beginning when Jesus came, when "light came into the world, men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). Paul speaks of the damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. What was their chief fault? "They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thess. 2:10-12). Jesus predicts that toward the end: "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt. 24:12). Love of God and Love of truth is essential to knowing the truth. It must be spoken "in love" (Eph. 4:15), and it must be received in love.

B. Love Causes Us To Obey The Commandments.

1. How many times did Jesus teach that obedience demands love! When we love we will obey; when we do not love we will not obey. it is as simple as that. Consider the following statements: "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15) "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father, and I will love him, . . . If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings" (John 14:21,23,24). "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3). "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments" (2 John 6).

2. Furthermore, in many matters concerning our conduct, whatever our differences of understanding as to particulars, we are acceptable and blameless if our obedience is done in love. "To his own master he standeth or falleth," says Paul (Rom. 14:4). Study the entire chapter.

Paul tells the Ephesians that we have been chosen "that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (Eph. 1:4). Apparently holiness and blamelessness are in some way and to some degree dependent upon "love." This fact is emphasized in his letter to the Thessalonians:

"1TH 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." Love seems to be the motive, the very basis of holiness and Christlike conduct.

C. Love Causes Us To serve God And One Another.

As we have already stated, our faith works by love. Our faith is shown by our works, according to James. Now if this is true, our works, our service, must be motivated by love. Let's consider this logic.

1JO 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1JO 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

1JO 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.(Study this entire chapter.)

Giving to others in time of their need is a test of love. "To prove the sincerity of your love . . . it is expedient . . . (to) perform the doing of it," Paul said to the Corinthians concerning the help they were to send to the poor saints of Jerusalem. (2 Cor. 8:8.) "Wherefore shew ye to them (that is, to Titus and the unknown beloved brother who together would carry the gift to Jerusalem), and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf" (v.24), said Paul.

Love causes one to forgive a brother who has sinned and repented. Paul says,, "Confirm your love toward him . . . that I might know the proof of you, whether he be obedient in all things" (2 Cor. 2:8,9).

Love causes one to serve his brethren. To the Galatians Paul said: GAL 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. GAL 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Gal. 5:1314). To show the force of this great principle listen again to Paul: "Owe no man anything but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13:8-10).

Love "fulfills" the law? How is this possible? Does this mean that all we have to do to complete the demands of the law is to love our brother? Or, does it mean that whatever we might do for our brother, the demands of the law are not met until we love him? Jesus "fulfilled" the demands of the old law by complying with all its demands. We can never, never, never measure up to all th4 demands of the law of Christ, but, still, we can fulfill this law by love. If we do the best that we are capable of doing and do it in the right spirit - with the right motive - we fulfill the law. What a beautiful law! What a beautiful Lord! How important love must be to our salvation!

Conclusion

A. Many beautiful and wonderful things have been planned for those who love God and brethren. Paul says: "

1CO 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

B. We know of course that the most beautiful "thing" of all, of course, is the forgiveness of our sins, that we might once again enjoy sweet communion and fellowship with God. "Grace and peace," says Peter, "be multiplied through the knowing of God and of Jesus our Lord" (2 Peter 1:2).

C. Furthermore, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28), and, "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:12). "The crown of life" has been promised to them that love God, says James. (James 1:12.)

D. We have previously stated that love cannot be counterfeited. And this is true! Love must be real and sincere. "If any man love God, the same is known of him," says Paul. (1 Cor. 8:3.)

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