The Great and First Commandment

[elijah23]

[34] But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together.
[35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.
[36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
[37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
[38] This is the great and first commandment. Matt 22:34-38 RSV

How does one go about obeying this commandment?

 

[jasoncran]

john 3:16 .

and he will do the rest by changing us, if you doubt that then just wait and pray. god will show you how selfish you are.

been there and im there now.

 

[elijah23]

Why is it important, do you think, that we obey this commandment?

 

[elijah23]

john 3:16 .

and he will do the rest by changing us, if you doubt that then just wait and pray. god will show you how selfish you are.

been there and im there now.

Does loving the Lord require any effort on our part?

 

[jasoncran]

oddly, you are a legalist and wont get this but any jew would.

and christian once i break it down. the torah itsself is the epitomy of love all the postive commandments reflect that love of god and his nature. that said once jermiah 31 was fulfilled at the cross. this nature to do the torah and love within was given to us.(this where the jew will part)

it will come out on its own through the power of god. though at times we must pray for more love to shine through.

 

[BornAgain]

[34] But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together.
[35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.
[36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
[37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
[38] This is the great and first commandment. Matt 22:34-38 RSV

How does one go about obeying this commandment?

One must love God with the heart. "With all thy soul" includes all of one's spiritual nature; "with all thy mind" means that all of the intellectual powers must be brought into subjection to the truth of God.

He meant that one must surrender his entire being to the will of God and use the faculties of his being to promote the honor and glory of God. This statement of the law includes the four commandments which were inscribed on the first table of stone, which regulated man's conduct toward God. Man's duties to God come first; they are supreme and must have the right of way in every life that would enjoy God.

Jesus did not stop with that commandment, but added that "a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." This is a summary of the six commandments on the second table of stone of the Decalogue, which describe and regulate man's conduct toward his fellow man. In these two summaries Jesus covers the entire law, and said, "On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets." All things in the Old Testament dispensation proceed from these two laws; all things that Moses and the prophets wrote were intended to bring men to the supreme principle of love to God and to man. In one sweep Jesus includes the entire will of God as revealed to man, and shows that no one section or clause of it can be disregarded or exalted above another. They recognized that Jesus had answered "discreetly" and no one of them asked him any more questions. Luke 20:40.

When people do not with the soul desire above all things to do the will of God, they do not love him. To love thy neighbor as thyself is not to feel a magnetic attraction toward him, but it is to have the purpose of heart, soul, and mind to do him good, to work for his happiness and well-being as we labor for our own well-being and happiness. He is a true child of God who is willing to sacrifice every fleshly feeling and impluse and bear all things to do the will of God. He loves his neighbor as himself who can choke back the angry feeling and forget wrongs suffered in order to benefit and help him. We can wisely love self only by loving the neighbor.
—Gospel Advocate Commentaries

 

[felix]

Does loving the Lord require any effort on our part?

Yes. Or else, He will kill your children and vomit you. Read the 1st 3 books of Revelation. By the way, if you are not aware of the Loving God's treatment of fallen believers in the book of Jeremiah, He makes you roast and eat your own child. This is why you need to read the Bible regarding who He truely loves.

Sent from mobile.

 

[Mitspa]

One must love God with the heart. "With all thy soul" includes all of one's spiritual nature; "with all thy mind" means that all of the intellectual powers must be brought into subjection to the truth of God.

He meant that one must surrender his entire being to the will of God and use the faculties of his being to promote the honor and glory of God. This statement of the law includes the four commandments which were inscribed on the first table of stone, which regulated man's conduct toward God. Man's duties to God come first; they are supreme and must have the right of way in every life that would enjoy God.

Jesus did not stop with that commandment, but added that "a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." This is a summary of the six commandments on the second table of stone of the Decalogue, which describe and regulate man's conduct toward his fellow man. In these two summaries Jesus covers the entire law, and said, "On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets." All things in the Old Testament dispensation proceed from these two laws; all things that Moses and the prophets wrote were intended to bring men to the supreme principle of love to God and to man. In one sweep Jesus includes the entire will of God as revealed to man, and shows that no one section or clause of it can be disregarded or exalted above another. They recognized that Jesus had answered "discreetly" and no one of them asked him any more questions. Luke 20:40.

When people do not with the soul desire above all things to do the will of God, they do not love him. To love thy neighbor as thyself is not to feel a magnetic attraction toward him, but it is to have the purpose of heart, soul, and mind to do him good, to work for his happiness and well-being as we labor for our own well-being and happiness. He is a true child of God who is willing to sacrifice every fleshly feeling and impluse and bear all things to do the will of God. He loves his neighbor as himself who can choke back the angry feeling and forget wrongs suffered in order to benefit and help him. We can wisely love self only by loving the neighbor.
—Gospel Advocate Commentaries

1Ti 1:6

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
1Ti 1:7

Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

Gal 5:4

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Gal 3:2

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:4

Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Gal 3:5

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

The JUST shall live by faith!