The Great Commandment
God's Plan Is Love
God's Plan Is Love
God created a wonderful plan for man. God is the great designer and creator. He designs what is good, right, and satisfying. God’s desire for man is summarized by God's Laws. God gave numerous laws and commandments that are written in His Word, the Bible. The Jewish people have calculated that God gave to the children of Israel 613 commandments which cover all phases of life and activity.
The Ten Commandments
Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5
God gave Moses ten simple commands which sum up all of the others in order to help man to understand His requirements. These laws are called the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20 or Deuteronomy 5. The first four relate to Love of God while the final six are concerned with Love of Others.
Many Commands Summarized by Ten
- Put God first
- Don't misrepresent God
- Don't wrongly use God's Name
- Remember His day
- Honor parents
- Don't murder
- Don't commit adultery
- Don't steal
- Don't lie
- Don't covet
These Ten Commandments can be summed up even further. Jesus gave these two commands which sum up all ten of the ten commandments. Jesus said keep these two and then you have kept and obeyed all of the ten commandments.
- Love God with all your heart
- A right relationship to the Living God
- Matthew 22:36-38 (KJV) Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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.
- A right relationship to the Living God
- Love Your Neighbor
- A right relationship to God makes possible a right relationship to sinners and saints.
- Matthew 22:39 (KJV) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
- A right relationship to God makes possible a right relationship to sinners and saints.
Man’s duty towards God and towards his neighbor can all be summarized by a single word.
Love
- Galatians 5:14 (KJV) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
- Romans 13:10 (KJV) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
- Next entry in the series 'The Great Commandment': Love Others As God Loves Us
