Matthew 22:34-40Matthew 22:34-40

34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment.

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:34-40Matthew 22:34-40

39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:34-40Matthew 22:34-40

39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:34-40Matthew 22:34-40

God’s Plan:The Big Picture

God’s Plan:First-Order Approximation( )

Point 1

The Bible is the inspired word of God.

Rudy Brooks

II Tim 3:16-17

II Peter 1:20-21

I Thess 2:13

Point 2

The Old Testament: Obeying God’s LawsThe ten commandments (Deuteronomy 5:7-

21)

You shall have no other gods before me

You shall not make for yourself an idol

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy

Honor your father and your mother

You shall not murder

You shall not commit adultery

You shall not steal

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, house, land …

Taking care of the poor among the Israelites (Deuteronomy 15:1-11)

Freely lend them whatever they need

Do not charge them any interest (Deut 23:19-20)

Cancel debts at the end of every seven years

Handling a rebellious son (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)

Take him to the elders

All the men of the town shall stone him to death

Sin:

The Israelites could not keep God’s laws.

Saul, David, Solomon, Judah, … could not even keep the basic ten commandmentsSin

Offerings:Multiple offerings of sacrifices for specific and unknown sins of the Israelites

Point 3

The New Testament: Love (+ Grace)

The love for God and our brother/neighbor/enemy

Matt 22:36-40

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.‘

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Paul (Rom: 13:9):

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Peter (I Peter 1:22):

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

John (I John 4:20-21):

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

James (James: 1:12):

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Is loving God and our brothers/neighbors all we have to

do?

What about the “thou shall”s and the “thou shall not”s ?What about the examples and teachings of the apostles given through the inspired Word ?

Implications of Our Love

I John 5:3

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome

II John 1:6

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands.

I John 3:18

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Sin:

Christians do not exhibit love as completely as they have been instructed

Sacrifice of His Son: Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection provides immediate and permanent forgiveness for the penitent

God’s Grace:

our accumulated love “actions”

God’s Grace

Heaven

Our Lifetime

our accumulated love “actions”

God’s Grace

Heaven

Our Lifetime

Love + Grace = Eternity with God

God’s Plan for Christians

• His plan is simple.

Become a ChristianHear, Believe, Confess, Repent, Baptize

Love God & our brothers/neighborsLive a life motivated by this love (study

His Word to know His commands/teachings)

Grace covers our shortcomings

• We make it difficult or complicated

Focus on self

Focus on difficult, non-specified points

Application to Hardin Valley Church

We are to keep God’s stated commands and teachings

In areas not definitive, God’s expectation is that whatever we do, we do out of love for Him and for each other