These two commandments

Matthew 22:40

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Jesus was a teacher of sublime simplicity. He did not over-complicate, confuse, or conceal the truth. He was forthright and honest in His dealings and in His doctrine. He could boil things down to a certain body of truth. He would reduce them to what was truly important, knowing that all other subjects of importance would fall into those categories. The greatest example of this method is the statement before is. The Pharisees, with a desire to trip Him up in His talk, would ask Him seemingly hard questions, tempting Him. Now, we know that He was never tempted to speak wrongly, and never did He give an inadequate answer. He gave truthful, intelligent, irrefutable answers. After His responses, the people durst not ask Him any more questions! There was never any man so wise as He—no sage or nobleman could exceed His understanding and wit. So, when the Pharisee here ask Him what is the the greatest commandment in the law, He gives them a most profound answer. He does not give only the greatest, but gives them the second as well. These two are complimentary, they are mutually agreeable, indeed, they are married to one another. Without either one, the other is completely obviated.

What are the two great commandments? Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and mind. This is the greatest commandment! If you are not obeying this, and if it has not been settled, you cannot and will not properly obey the others! For you see, this is the command to determine our attitude toward all other commands. Why would we ever obey God’s commandments if we do not love Him enough to do so? Do you love the Lord today? Do you love Him with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind?

And the second is like unto it. That is to say, if the first is obeyed, the second will be obeyed easily. And further, without the first, the second has no basis nor point of reference. That is why it is the second! You cannot truly love your neighbor as yourself if you do not love God. His love is the first love. His love is the definer of all other loves. So, if we love God, we can love others also. Therefore, the simple and basic question may be asked in our hearts: do I love my neighbor as myself? Is everything I do being done out of love? If it is not done for that reason and purpose and motivation, it is not a fulfillment of God’s law. For on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. The apostle Paul tells us that all commandments are “briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:9-10). Do you want to fulfill the law of God? You will fulfill it only by loving God first, and loving others second to that. And every other deed must be analyzed by these two commands. We must examine them with this test: is it done because I love God and others. This, my friend, will serve to judge every word and deed. If all things come under this scrutiny, we shall know if we are fulfilling God’s law or not. Everything must be judged by this!

“And now, dear Lord, we praise You for the simplicity of Your law. May we judge all that we say and do by these two determiners. Let us see what is right and what is wrong by these two commandments. Let us ask ourselves if we can do what we are doing or say what we are saying in love for God and others. And if the answer is negative, help us, Lord, to steer away from such a word or deed. And then, we shall know that we are pleasing in Thy sight. Please help us, we pray, to obey these two commandments, and thus, all others. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”