The Great Commandment in the OT: Love God
When I introduced this series (“The Great Commandment in the OT: Preview“), I began with Matthew’s and Luke’s retelling of the great commandment.
According to Matthew, Jesus said the the great commandment is to love God. He then continued by saying that the second great commandment is like the first: love your neighbor. Jesus then says that all the Law and the Prophets (perhaps referring to the entire New Testament) depends on these two commands.
Where does Jesus get these great commandments? How is he able to say that the entire OT depends on the commands to love God and love your neighbors?
The first part of the great command (love God) is the easier of the two great commandments to find in the OT. Perhaps the most obvious starting place is in the Exodus. The children of Israel are standing on the banks of the Jordan River and Moses prepares them to cross into the Promised Land. They had been wandering in the wilderness for the last 40 years because they did not trust God and cross into the Promised Land earlier.
Now, they are once again ready to move across the river. As Moses tells them:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ESV)
The proper response to the “one God” is to love him. As we keep reading, we see that this love was to demonstrate itself as the children of Israel taught others (particular their own families) what God had done for them and that they should love God as well. This “love” was not to be primarily a ritualistic love, but a love that demonstrated itself in every aspect of life:
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:7-9 ESV)
Loving God becomes an important theme throughout Deuteronomy:
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations… (Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV)
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul… (Deuteronomy 10:12 ESV)
You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always. (Deuteronomy 11:1 ESV)
And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (Deuteronomy 30:6 ESV)
Two important points are clear through Deuteronomy. 1) Obedience would be a result of the Israelites love of God. 2) The children of Israel would not be able to love God until God changed their heart.
Throughout the Old Testament, these points follow the story of the children of Israel. Their disobedience shows that they do not love God. When they turn to other gods, it shows that they do not love God. When they refuse to trust God (in spite of God’s faithful and steadfast love), it shows that they do not love God.
So, even a cursory look at the Old Testament demonstrates that loving God is the beginning of all of the commandments and the beginning of a life of trusting God.
But, what about loving your neighbors? I’ll look at that part of the great commandment in the next post.
O ye beneath life’s crushing load
Last Sunday, as we gathered together as the church, we sang a few songs together, among other things.
We sang some traditional Christmas songs, and we sang a few songs that are not “Christmas” songs.
But, one of the songs that we sang was “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” I was surprised by some of the lyrics… surprised in a good way.
For example, I really appreciated the third verse:
O ye beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
So, to all of you who find yourself “beneath life’s crushing load,” there’s good news! It’s the same good news that the angels sang about: God’s son is here!
The Great Commandment in the OT: Preview
Matthew tells us that some of the Jewish religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by asking him a few questions that, presumably, have no good answer. For example, some of the Pharisees and Herodians asked Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22).
When Jesus surprised them with his answer, some Sadducees asked him about marriage in heaven – again, in an attempt to trick him (Matthew 22:32). Again, as Matthew tells us, Jesus astounded them with his answer. Twice now, Jesus has showed his questioners that they do not understand the Scriptures nor do they understand the ways of the kingdom of God.
In a third attempt to trick Jesus, another Pharisee who was an expert in the law (Matthew 22:34-35) asks him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36 ESV)
In response, Matthew records the following:
And he [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 ESV)
According to Matthew, Jesus says that all the Law and the Prophets (probably a reference to the entirety of the Old Testament Scriptures) depend upon this (these?) one (two?) commandment (commandments?): Love God (and love your neighbor).
Interestingly, Luke places the question on Jesus lips, and the response (the great commandment) on the lips of the “lawyer”:
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him [Jesus] to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28 ESV)
At this point, the lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” In response, Jesus tells the story that we commonly call “The Good Samaritan.” (Luke 10:25-37)
When Matthew has Jesus teaching the “great commandment” as love God and love neighbor, there is the possibility that Jesus made this up, or that it was something new to the hearers. When Luke has the “lawyer” responding with love God and love neighbor, it seems like much more common knowledge that this is the great commandment.
But, the question is: Where does this come from? You will not find a particular passage in the Old Testament that states: the greatest commandment is to love God, and the second one (which is like the first one) is to love your neighbor as yourself.
Furthermore, if this is a valid interpretation of the Old Testament (and a valid summary of the entire Old Testament, or at least the Law and Prophets), do the New Testament authors do injury to the “great commandment” when they further summarize it as “Love your neighbor”? (for example, see Galatians 5:14, James 2:8, and 2 John 1:5)
I’m going to be examining these questions in the next two posts, beginning with a post on loving God, followed by a post on loving your neighbor.
Following Jesus?
Are you following Jesus? Are you his disciple? Are you abiding in him as he abides in you? Have you been crucified with Christ? Is it no longer you who lives but Christ who lives in you?
I’ve been asking myself these (and other) difficult questions. Why the questions and thoughts? Well, they’ve been spurred on by the writing of Michael Spencer.
For example, I read the following in Mere Churchianity by Michael Spencer:
“I’m looking for a spiritual experience that looks like, feels like, sounds like, lives like, loves like, and acts like Jesus of Nazareth.”
Before you get “hung up” on Spencer’s term “spiritual experience,” please pay attention to what he’s saying.
If my life does not look more and more like Jesus’ life, then I am not abiding in him. If I am not doing more and more things like Jesus did (as attested in the Gospels), then I am not following him (i.e., being his disciple). If I am not spending time with the kind of people that Jesus spent time with, then he is not living his life in me.
The necessity of the comparison seems obvious. We’re giving a glimpse into the life of Christ not once, not twice, but from four different perspective.
We have a way to compare our life to the life of Christ. But, I don’t like the comparison.
Using Jesus to Promote Churchianity
First, I am extremely impressed with Waterbrook Multnomah’s Blogging for Books program. It was only 5 days ago that I posted my review on “Blogging for Books” (see my review of Under the Overpass) and ordered my next free review book, Mere Churchianity by Michael Spencer.
Believe it or not, that book arrived yesterday, and I started reading it last night.
Already, I can tell that Spencer has a good understanding of modern, traditional church culture.
I loved this statement:
“Jesus is used as a symbol to approve what we already are, to bless what we are already pursuing, and to prefer the people we are most similar to.”
I’m looking forward to Spencer’s answer. Since I followed his blog when he was alive, I think he’ll point us toward “Jesus-shaped spirituality.” I’m interested to see how he defines this in the book.
Anyway, if you haven’t signed up for Blogging for Books yet, you definitely should. This is a great program for bloggers who love to read. In fact, my wife, Margaret, even decided to sign up and start writing reviews.
It’s not my kingdom
It’s not my kingdom, and it’s not my church. I think every Christian would agree with that in principle, but some often act as if it is their kingdom and their church.
James and John asked if they could sit at Jesus’ right and left hand while he ruled his kingdom. Jesus said, “No. That’s not the way my kingdom works.” But, I think, others have decided that James and John were right and Jesus was wrong. They have tried to place themselves at Jesus’ right/left hand, even if only over their local fiefdoms.
I’ll be honest… it is tempting to place yourself (or let yourself be placed) in a position of authority.
But, how do we make sure that we are not putting ourselves in a position that only Jesus can hold?
Do unto others…
The “Golden Rule”… We know it from Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and flashy posters and flannelgraphs. Oh, and from Scripture. Luke records it this way (as translated by the ESV): “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (Luke 6:31 ESV)
But, what does this mean? Is it more than a Christian slogan? Can it really affect the way we live?
Apparently Jesus (and Luke) thought so.
According to Luke, this is the way Jesus defined and explained this statement:
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36 ESV)
You could keep going (and keep reading, if you so desire), but I think that gets the point across. The “Golden Rule” is much, much more than “Be kind to people.”
What do you think?
Two Posts on Leadership
Recently, I’ve read two very good posts on leadership among the church:
Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” wrote a post called “‘Leader’ or ‘Leaders’.” In the post, Eric recalls a conversation with another believer about leadership. Eric determined that while they were both talking about “leadership,” they were actually talking about completely different things:
After a few minutes, I realized that we were saying two very different things. While my friend repeatedly used the term “leader,” I kept saying “leaders.” This may at first seem like a small difference, but in reality it is a large one.
I know that my friend believes in strong pastoral leadership. In particular, the “senior pastor” must lead the church as it strives to follow Christ. Therefore, when he says “leader,” he is referring to the senior pastor. I, on the other hand, was saying “leaders” because I was envisioning people within the church (both elders and non-elders) who lead through servanthood and holiness of living. They lead by example.
Scot from “Jesus Creed” wrote another post about leadership called “A Leadership Rant” for “Slant33.” The author (like me) does not like leadership books. Why? He says most of them begin with cultural forms of leadership and then justify it from Scripture. What type of “leadership” does Scot prefer? He explains:
So I want to put my idea on the line and see where it leads us. We have one leader, and his name is Jesus… Instead of seeing myself as a leader, I see myself as a follower. Instead of plotting how to lead, I plot how to follow Jesus with others. Instead of seeing myself at the helm of some boat—and mine is small compared to many others—I see myself in the boat, with Jesus at the helm.
These views of leadership are certainly different than what we usually see in today’s culture or even in today’s church.
What do you think?
Through the eyes of the homeless
Have you ever wondered what the homeless (and others in need) think about our theological discussions, arguments about the Bible, and other “churchy” stuff?
Yesterday, I reviewed Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski. In the book, Mike tells the story of how he and Sam lived as homeless people on the streets of six cities over 5 months. Mike and Sam are both 20-something Christian men. But, in the book, we get a glimpse of what the homeless see of us (even from a Christian perspective).
Here is one excerpt:
Suddenly a young family came into view. The dad – dressed in t-shirt, shorts, and a baseball cap – walked in front, but he was looking down, evidently listening to his wife. She came along behind pushing the stroller. As they rolled up to us, a small boy in the stroller looked out at me.
When you’re sitting on a sidewalk, you’re at eye level with babies and kids… While kids might pretend people who don’t exist do, it’s the parents who pretend that unwanted people who do exist don’t.
I held the boy’s gaze for a while and gave him a smile, which he immediately returned. From high above him, his mother said something that caught my attention. “We have to be about the gift of giving and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit,” she said.
I looked up quickly, wondering what those words might mean, what with us sprawled on the sidewalk not five feet from her. But when I caught her eye, she looked away and quickened her pace.
Now the family was well past us. But the boy in the stroller still looked straight at me… (p. 55-56)
And, here’s another excerpt:
Although Sam and I spent every Sunday morning at a church somewhere on our travels, the lack of community was taking a toll on us. Even at church, we felt isolated because of how we looked, how we smelled, and who people perceived us to be. In fact, walking into a church where we hoped to find genuine fellowship only to be met by condescension or suspicion or disingenuous flattery was the worst kind of rejection. (p. 150-151)
I hope these excerpts (and the entire book if you choose to read it) will spur all of us on to noticing the people around us, and then spending time with the people we see.
Why would he thank God for that?
I was very exciting and grateful to read Eric’s (from “A Pilgrim’s Progress“) post called “Thankful for a Little Work.” You see, Eric has been out of work for a few weeks since he resigned from his position as a professional pastor.
(I was glad to hear from Eric personally that he continues to pastor/shepherd people even though he is not employed in the office of a pastor. Perhaps he will write about this eventually… hint hint.)
So, Eric has been looking for work for a few weeks. As everyone knows, this is a difficult economy to be looking for work. But, Eric found work! He says:
I’m happy to say that I now have a little work to do. The Lord has provided some janitorial work for me in the evenings at a local daycare facility. Basically I sweep and mop a cafeteria, kitchen, hallway, and bathrooms for 3.5 hours per night. It is nothing special by the world’s standards, but it is real work. The pay is not much (certainly not enough to support a family), but it is something that will help.
Wait… Eric is HAPPY for a part-time job as a janitor? And, he thanks God for PROVIDING this job for him?
Yes. And, I thank God for Eric and his example. You may not agree with Eric’s conclusion that paid, professional pastors are not scriptural, but you have to admire the fact that he is living according to his convictions, and not just talking about them.