Lesson Twenty-Two

SUMMARY

THE TWO GREATEST COMMANDMENTS

Burden to Impart:

The spirit of the Ten Commandments is love. Every commandment is fulfilled spontaneously by loving God and loving our neighbor (Matt. 22:36-40; Rom. 13:8-10). Neither fear nor duty is an adequate motivation to obey God's commandments. Love is the key factor (John 13:23).

Memory Verse:

 "And He answered and said, 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" (Luke 10:27).

Facts to Teach:

  1. One purpose for which God gave the Ten Commandments was to reveal Himself to His redeemed people. Each commandment gives more height and understanding concerning His nature, His character, His ways, His feeling, and His heart. Each commandment is precious, for it is like a photograph of God's inward being revealed to us.
  2. In considering the Ten Commandments in relation to the two greatest commandments we may group them into two groups: the first four commandments as one group, and the last six commandments as another. The first four commandments directly concern our relationship with God, the last six commandments directly concern our relationship with men (Exo. 20:2-17).
  3. The Lord Jesus taught us that not only the Ten Commandments, but all of the Word of God revealed to men hangs upon just two commandments (Matt. 22:36-40).
  4. If we love our God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind we would:
    1. not have other gods,
    2. not make any carved image,
    3. not take the Name of the Lord in vain,
    4. remember God the Creator by sanctifying our days and time for Him.
  5. If we love our neighbor as our self we would:
    1. honor our father and mother
    2. not murder
    3. not commit adultery
    4. not steal
    5. not bear false witness
    6. Not covet our neighbor's possessions.
  6. Since both of the greatest two commandments are a matter of love, either loving God or loving man, love is the spirit of God's commandments.
  7. The Ten Commandments expressly tell us what NOT to do, what is AGAINST God's nature. Concerning what we SHOULD do positively in order to walk pleasingly toward God and man, only one word is all that is necessary to instruct us: we should LOVE our God with our all, and we should love our neighbor as our self. Love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom. 13:8-10).