The Law of Love
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
What does it mean to “love”?
How do we define it?
If I say that “I love you,” what exactly am I saying?
Is there a difference between how the world defines love and how the Bible defines love?
What is the difference?
Why is there a difference?
As we progress into the last of the last days, the highest and grandest and loftiest and most needful doctrine to understand, preach, hold to, and defend, is not predestination, election, nor depravity.
The greatest truth that is under attack, will be used as leverage from the devil and his people, and will have the deepest misunderstanding is not even related to historical theology.
What teaching will become the most maligned, the most misunderstood, and the greatest target of Satan to alter?
What teaching of Scripture will be the most useful to Satan’s plans as he promotes a false definition of it into the world and especially the church?
What teaching am I talking about?
I am referring to the Law of Christ as described in our passage.
It is the LAW OF LOVE.
This truth is the target of Satan and all his servants as they twist love into an unrecognizable monster completely unrelated to what Jesus teaches.
I looked through one psychology study that gave some very interesting insights into love in the realm of man’s experience.
Here is their conclusion:
To conclude, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study concerning explicit regulation of love feelings. We argue that love regulation targets actual love feelings and we recognize that that in turn may affect emotions and relationship characteristics. The results showed that people have the preconception that love is somewhat uncontrollable. Nevertheless, they use various behavioral and cognitive strategies to cope with romantic break-ups and to maintain long-term relationships. In the context of heartbreak, distraction was used to feel better after a break-up (i.e., emotion regulation), while reappraisal was used to down-regulate love feelings. In the context of long-term relationships, communication/honesty was important for maintaining long-term relationships, while undertaking (new) activities with the beloved was used to prevent love feelings from declining (i.e., love up-regulation). These preconceptions of, and strategies for love regulation were replicated in two independent samples. Importantly, people were able to up-regulate their love feelings by thinking about the positive aspects of their partner and/or relationship and imagining positive future scenarios. People were also able to down-regulate their love feelings by thinking about negative aspects of their partner and/or relationship and imagining negative future scenarios.
This study, and others I looked at, all saw the romantic relationship as the epitome of love.
And, that relationship is one that we all regulate depending upon how we feel and what brings us the deepest happiness.
The conclusion of this writer and their study was that we all regulate the good and the bad depending upon their impact upon us.
But, this is not love.
Even in these kinds of relationships, “regulating” love depending upon how you are benefitted is an attack on God’s love.
The world, as I said, takes the observable activities of life, removes God from them drastically, and redefines them according to the benefit to man himself.
Of all the biblical teachings, to do this to love is to mangle it at the core and redefine God Himself.
I would like to explain why I make the statement above.
I would like to explain why I make the statement above.
The biblical teaching of love is the teaching most hated by Satan.
There are 4 reasons we can assume this:
Love is the greatest commandment.
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is 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.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
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.’
“This is the great and foremost commandment.
“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Love is the essence of the nature of God.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Love is the foundation of the church.
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Love is the foundation of evangelism.
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
v.34
v.34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
ἐντολὴν καινὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους.
The Law of Love - pt.2 John 13:34 1 of 9
The New Commandment
Jesus is leaving the little flock (Luke 12:32) Jesus is going back to the Father.
John 14:18–19
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19 “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
John 14:28
28 “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
His days are almost over.
a) His ministry to the disciples is shifting from earth to heaven.
b) They will be left on earth without Him.
They will no longer be able to walk around with Him, watch Him heal, listen to His voice, or see Him defend Himself against wolves like the Pharisees.
a) He will have made the world His enemy, and then He will leave and they will be left there in the world.
b) They will have to deal with the stigma of having associated with Jesus Christ for the last 3 years publicly and without His presence to help, protect, and direct them.
(1) It would appear that they are worried, afraid (John 14:1).
(2) And rightfully so.
c) However, that does not stop their responsibility. d) In fact, it intensifies the responsibility.
They now, more than ever, must hold tightly to God, to Christ, and they must
continue the work He began (Acts 1:1ff).
a) They must preach, confound, refute error, and rescue the prisoners of Satan
(Hebrews 2:9ff).
b) In order to do this, Jesus must give them one final, overarching, command, directive, instruction.
c) Had Jesus not done this, given a new commandment, there might be room to go back to Torah.
They might have melded back into the world of Judaism at worst, or simply lived in ultimate confusion at best.
7. 8.
need instruction.
They need a commandment.
They need to know what they are supposed to be doing.
a)
Think about it:
(1) Jesus taught that He fulfilled the Law-Matthew 5:17ff.
(2) Jesus taught that righteousness must exceed that of the most elite Judaisitic
leaders-Matthew 5:20
(3) Jesus taught that compassion, mercy, and justice are more important than the
feasts-Matthew 23:23
(4) Jesus taught that He was Lord of the Sabbath-Luke 6:5
(5) Jesus taught that He alone knows the Father, stating that the entire world is in
darkness concerning the Father-Matthew 11:27
And now, He is leaving.
b)
c)
However, above all these needs, the starting place for all these needs, is the they
(1)
(2)
Now, He is being betrayed, handed over for killing.
(a) He is innocent, pure, undefiled.
(b) He is the spotless Lamb of God, verified throughout an entire intense
week of ministry against the wolves.
And now He is about to leave them there, in the world.
(a) They will need help.
(b) They will need protection.
(c) They will need resolve.
Jesus starts here.
a) The first word in this sentence is: “commandment.”
b) It is in a bit of an emphatic position, being the first word in Greek .
It is crucial that we do not import our own concepts into this word.
We need to understand it the way that Jesus meant it, the way that these men would
have conceived of it.
What is this word (“commandment”)?
It is a word that refers to OT Mosaic commands as expressed in the NT. (1) Mark 7:5-13
(a) v. 8 = “commandment”
(b) v.9 = “commandment”
(c) v. 10 = “Moses said”
(d) v. 13 = “Word of God”
(2) Mark 12:28-33
(a) “Which commandment...?”
(b) Jesus answered with the greatest commandment: “Love God”
i) vv. 29-31 = the greatest commandment.
ii) In the OT, the word that is most used for the Greek NT word is: )צוה( ”commandment“
Deuteronomy 6:1 is a good example of how this word is used.
1 “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it,
i) The act of commanding is in view here.
ii) This is the command from God for some kind of behavior.
iii) However, notice that there are two other words used here that also bear weight and are used alongside “commandment.”
The Law of Love - pt.2 John 13:34 1 of 9
The New Commandment
Jesus is leaving the little flock (Luke 12:32) Jesus is going back to the Father.
John 14:18–19
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19 “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
John 14:28
28 “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
His days are almost over.
a) His ministry to the disciples is shifting from earth to heaven.
b) They will be left on earth without Him.
They will no longer be able to walk around with Him, watch Him heal, listen to His voice, or see Him defend Himself against wolves like the Pharisees.
a) He will have made the world His enemy, and then He will leave and they will be left there in the world.
b) They will have to deal with the stigma of having associated with Jesus Christ for the last 3 years publicly and without His presence to help, protect, and direct them.
(1) It would appear that they are worried, afraid (John 14:1).
(2) And rightfully so.
c) However, that does not stop their responsibility. d) In fact, it intensifies the responsibility.
They now, more than ever, must hold tightly to God, to Christ, and they must
continue the work He began (Acts 1:1ff).
a) They must preach, confound, refute error, and rescue the prisoners of Satan
(Hebrews 2:9ff).
b) In order to do this, Jesus must give them one final, overarching, command, directive, instruction.
c) Had Jesus not done this, given a new commandment, there might be room to go back to Torah.
They might have melded back into the world of Judaism at worst, or simply lived in ultimate confusion at best.
7. 8.
need instruction.
They need a commandment.
They need to know what they are supposed to be doing.
a)
Think about it:
(1) Jesus taught that He fulfilled the Law-Matthew 5:17ff.
(2) Jesus taught that righteousness must exceed that of the most elite Judaisitic
leaders-Matthew 5:20
(3) Jesus taught that compassion, mercy, and justice are more important than the
feasts-Matthew 23:23
(4) Jesus taught that He was Lord of the Sabbath-Luke 6:5
(5) Jesus taught that He alone knows the Father, stating that the entire world is in
darkness concerning the Father-Matthew 11:27
And now, He is leaving.
b)
c)
However, above all these needs, the starting place for all these needs, is the they
(1)
(2)
Now, He is being betrayed, handed over for killing.
(a) He is innocent, pure, undefiled.
(b) He is the spotless Lamb of God, verified throughout an entire intense
week of ministry against the wolves.
And now He is about to leave them there, in the world.
(a) They will need help.
(b) They will need protection.
(c) They will need resolve.
Jesus starts here.
a) The first word in this sentence is: “commandment.”
b) It is in a bit of an emphatic position, being the first word in Greek .
It is crucial that we do not import our own concepts into this word.
We need to understand it the way that Jesus meant it, the way that these men would
have conceived of it.
What is this word (“commandment”)?
It is a word that refers to OT Mosaic commands as expressed in the NT. (1) Mark 7:5-13
(a) v. 8 = “commandment”
(b) v.9 = “commandment”
(c) v. 10 = “Moses said”
(d) v. 13 = “Word of God”
(2) Mark 12:28-33
(a) “Which commandment...?”
(b) Jesus answered with the greatest commandment: “Love God”
i) vv. 29-31 = the greatest commandment.
ii) In the OT, the word that is most used for the Greek NT word is: )צוה( ”commandment“
Deuteronomy 6:1 is a good example of how this word is used.
1 “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it,
i) The act of commanding is in view here.
ii) This is the command from God for some kind of behavior.
iii) However, notice that there are two other words used here that also bear weight and are used alongside “commandment.”
(1) The “statutes and the judgments” = the content of the commandment.
(2) The “commandment" = the overall demand of God upon Israel.
(3) "Statutes and the judgments" = The various details of the
commandment.
Notice that that is how Moses understands it to be in v. 1 when he
writes that he is “to teach” the commandment to Israel.
(1) “To teach” = “to learn" (Deuteronomy 4:10; 5:1); “to
teach” (Deuteronomy 4:5; 31:19 [“put on the lips”]).
(2) Therefore, in this little illustration, the OT indicates that God has a commandment and that commandment is carried out in various ways by teaching regulations, statutes, and judgments.
(3) Therefore, God does not simply give a command, an order.
He also instructs how to do that command in any context.
(3) Illustration:
(a) Genesis 2:15 = “commanded” (cf. 3:11, 17)
(b) Genesis 1:28-30 = how to carry out the command in that context: be
fruitful, multiply, fill, subdue, and rule.
(c) And, eat from all that I have given you for your food.
(4) Therefore, God commands and that command is overarching, extensive, and to be followed under penalty of death (often).
b) However, in that commandment, God also fills that commandment with instructions as to how to carry it out and what it is to look like in their daily intercourse.
c) This is why the OT continually held up al the statutes and regulations as they were all an extension of a singular commandment.
Psalm 19:7–9
7 The
The
about something.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; = the relations of religious observation.
law of the Lord
is perfect, restoring the soul; = Torah
is sure, making wise the simple. = What God has said
testimony of the Lord
d) e)
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. = the actual commands of God.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; = the result of God acting and working in the world.
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. = God’s verdict in any circumstance.
Conclusion from the OT.
(1) Israel was given a Law.
(2) That Law was the “commandment.”
The rabbi’s would write that there were 613 “regulations” in that Law:
"Acc. to Synagogue teaching there are in the Torah 613 מִצְוֹת, 365 מִצְוֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, i.e., prohibitions, and 248 מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה, i.e., positive commands. Judaism is thus confronted by a
plethora of commands which make it difficult to apprehend the unity of the divine will. This situation is illuminated by the pointed question of the young man in Mt. 19:18: “ποίας which?” It is also attested by the question as to the ἐντολὴ πρώτη πάντων in Mk. 12:28 or μεγάλη ἐν τῷ νόμῳ in Mt. 22:36. In spite of its atomistic ethics, broken up into individual demands and individual acts, the Synagogue shows definite signs of trying to attain to a unitary conception of the commandments by tracing them back to basic principles.4"1
f) However, all those regulations stem from basically one commandment.
g) This is why Jesus was asked, “Which is the greatest commandment?” (Matthew
)21:36
"Possibly this scribe wishes to know which commandment stood first (Mark 12:28) with Jesus. “The scribes declared that there were 248 affirmative precepts, as many as the members of the human body; and 365 negative precepts, as many as the days in the year, the total being 613, the number of letters in the Decalogue” (Vincent). But Jesus cuts through such pettifogging hair- splitting to the heart of the problem."2
1 Schrenk, G. (1964–). ἐντέλλομαι, ἐντολή. G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich (Eds.),
Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 2, p. 547). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
2 Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Mt 22:36). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
• SIDENOTE: notice what Dr. Robertson says here. It is crucial that we follow Jesus’ example here and relieve ourselves of “pettifogging hair-splitting” and deal with the heart (i.e. the will).
E.
5. The mind of the petty Jews was to debate about all the regulations and judgments, and they set aside the overall commandment.
Jesus’ answer was Leviticus 19:18
1.
2. 3.
Notice Matthew 21:40 = “on these two commandment “hang” the whole Law and
Prophets.”
a) This is proper interpretation born out of exegesis.
b) Jesus says that all the regulations, statutes, and judgments of Moses and the
Prophets stem from, hang on, the commandment of love for God and the neighbor.
In other words, if a Jew did not have love for God and a love for his neighbor, he really had none of the regulations, statutes, nor judgments either.
He was guilty of breaking the whole Law (James 2:10).
F.
Matthew 7:12
12 “In everything, therefore, treat people (“do to them”) the same way you want them to treat you (“to do to you”), for this is the Law and the Prophets.
a) The entire intent of the Law and Prophets was to demand a righteousness of immense magnitude.
b) The expectation of the Law of Moses was that the heart of the Israelite would exist in perfect love for God and the people.
Let’s go back and see that verse and see what it says.
1.
Leviticus 19:17-18
a) "I am the LORD” = breaking point.
b) “Hate” v. 17 = unable/unwilling to put up with; to reject.
c) This verse indicates that love in the nation of Israel was a willingness to maintain
relationships with people in the nation.
(1) That is, in your heart, you must be willing to receive a man, even in sin. (2) “but shall not incur sin because of him.” = this would indicate a neighbor
living next to an irritating, guilty, even sinful, neighbor.
d) The command in Israel is to put up with that neighbor, and to love him in your
heart.
Why?
a) Because, to hate him, even if unlovely, is to incur guilt I your own heart and thus condemn yourself, and that is not worthy it.
b) Rather, let God take vengeance.
(1) The “statutes and the judgments” = the content of the commandment.
(2) The “commandment" = the overall demand of God upon Israel.
(3) "Statutes and the judgments" = The various details of the
commandment.
Notice that that is how Moses understands it to be in v. 1 when he
writes that he is “to teach” the commandment to Israel.
(1) “To teach” = “to learn" (Deuteronomy 4:10; 5:1); “to
teach” (Deuteronomy 4:5; 31:19 [“put on the lips”]).
(2) Therefore, in this little illustration, the OT indicates that God has a commandment and that commandment is carried out in various ways by teaching regulations, statutes, and judgments.
(3) Therefore, God does not simply give a command, an order.
He also instructs how to do that command in any context.
(3) Illustration:
(a) Genesis 2:15 = “commanded” (cf. 3:11, 17)
(b) Genesis 1:28-30 = how to carry out the command in that context: be
fruitful, multiply, fill, subdue, and rule.
(c) And, eat from all that I have given you for your food.
(4) Therefore, God commands and that command is overarching, extensive, and to be followed under penalty of death (often).
b) However, in that commandment, God also fills that commandment with instructions as to how to carry it out and what it is to look like in their daily intercourse.
c) This is why the OT continually held up al the statutes and regulations as they were all an extension of a singular commandment.
Psalm 19:7–9
7 The
The
about something.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; = the relations of religious observation.
law of the Lord
is perfect, restoring the soul; = Torah
is sure, making wise the simple. = What God has said
testimony of the Lord
d) e)
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. = the actual commands of God.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; = the result of God acting and working in the world.
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. = God’s verdict in any circumstance.
Conclusion from the OT.
(1) Israel was given a Law.
(2) That Law was the “commandment.”
The rabbi’s would write that there were 613 “regulations” in that Law:
"Acc. to Synagogue teaching there are in the Torah 613 מִצְוֹת, 365 מִצְוֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, i.e., prohibitions, and 248 מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה, i.e., positive commands. Judaism is thus confronted by a
plethora of commands which make it difficult to apprehend the unity of the divine will. This situation is illuminated by the pointed question of the young man in Mt. 19:18: “ποίας which?” It is also attested by the question as to the ἐντολὴ πρώτη πάντων in Mk. 12:28 or μεγάλη ἐν τῷ νόμῳ in Mt. 22:36. In spite of its atomistic ethics, broken up into individual demands and individual acts, the Synagogue shows definite signs of trying to attain to a unitary conception of the commandments by tracing them back to basic principles.4"1
f) However, all those regulations stem from basically one commandment.
g) This is why Jesus was asked, “Which is the greatest commandment?” (Matthew
)21:36
"Possibly this scribe wishes to know which commandment stood first (Mark 12:28) with Jesus. “The scribes declared that there were 248 affirmative precepts, as many as the members of the human body; and 365 negative precepts, as many as the days in the year, the total being 613, the number of letters in the Decalogue” (Vincent). But Jesus cuts through such pettifogging hair- splitting to the heart of the problem."2
1 Schrenk, G. (1964–). ἐντέλλομαι, ἐντολή. G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich (Eds.),
Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 2, p. 547). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
2 Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Mt 22:36). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
• SIDENOTE: notice what Dr. Robertson says here. It is crucial that we follow Jesus’ example here and relieve ourselves of “pettifogging hair-splitting” and deal with the heart (i.e. the will).
E.
5. The mind of the petty Jews was to debate about all the regulations and judgments, and they set aside the overall commandment.
Jesus’ answer was Leviticus 19:18
1.
2. 3.
Notice Matthew 21:40 = “on these two commandment “hang” the whole Law and
Prophets.”
a) This is proper interpretation born out of exegesis.
b) Jesus says that all the regulations, statutes, and judgments of Moses and the
Prophets stem from, hang on, the commandment of love for God and the neighbor.
In other words, if a Jew did not have love for God and a love for his neighbor, he really had none of the regulations, statutes, nor judgments either.
He was guilty of breaking the whole Law (James 2:10).
F.
Matthew 7:12
12 “In everything, therefore, treat people (“do to them”) the same way you want them to treat you (“to do to you”), for this is the Law and the Prophets.
a) The entire intent of the Law and Prophets was to demand a righteousness of immense magnitude.
b) The expectation of the Law of Moses was that the heart of the Israelite would exist in perfect love for God and the people.
Let’s go back and see that verse and see what it says.
1.
Leviticus 19:17-18
a) "I am the LORD” = breaking point.
b) “Hate” v. 17 = unable/unwilling to put up with; to reject.
c) This verse indicates that love in the nation of Israel was a willingness to maintain
relationships with people in the nation.
(1) That is, in your heart, you must be willing to receive a man, even in sin. (2) “but shall not incur sin because of him.” = this would indicate a neighbor
living next to an irritating, guilty, even sinful, neighbor.
d) The command in Israel is to put up with that neighbor, and to love him in your
heart.
Why?
a) Because, to hate him, even if unlovely, is to incur guilt I your own heart and thus condemn yourself, and that is not worthy it.
b) Rather, let God take vengeance.
G. H.
However, not only was the it the plan of God that He be betrayed, but it was also a necessary display to the disciples of how to maintain their hearts in ministry.
“New” = new in kind.
“Of the two most common words for “new” since the classical period, namely, → νέος and καινός, the former signifies “what was not there before,” “what has only just arisen or appeared,” the latter “what is new and distinctive” as compared with other things, νέος is new in time or origin, i.e., young, with a suggestion of immaturity or of lack of respect for the old (→ νέος for examples). καινός is what is new in nature, different from the usual, impressive, better than the old, superior in value or attraction,”3
3.
4. 5.
6. 7.
Jesus did not hold Judas in contempt of heart.
a) Was Judas guilty?
b) Indeed he was!!
Did Jesus know the details of what was in his heart for a long time? Indeed He did.
Could Jesus have judged this man on the spot and be right in doing it? Indeed He could.
c) d)
Leviticus 19:18
18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.
Therefore, as that irritating, guilty neighbor has needs, take care of him.
Do not despise him, hate him, reject him, or have in your heart a disdain for him. (1) Rather, allow God to work in his heart.
(2) You keep yourself guiltless.
(3) You be the guiltless one.
I. Illustration:
Hebrews 8:4-13.
The explanation of “new” is the subject of Chapter 9.
This commandment is unlike the nature of the prior commandment of Leviticus
19:18.
3 Behm, J. (1964–). καινός, καινότης, ἀνακαινίξω, ἀνακαινόω, ἀνακαίνωσις, ἐγκαινίζω. G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich (Eds.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 3, p. 447). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
It is not new in wording, new in expectation, new to man, or new to God.
It is new in that it is a commandment from Jesus Christ incarnate.
a) Just as the commandment was given to Moses and explained through many, many
regulations and statutes, God now, in Christ, gives to His followers a
commandment and it is “new” in nature, kind, and quality. j b) John 6:63 - words of Spirit.
c) John 6:68 - words of eternal life.
However, most importantly, Jesus’ words are words of the New Covenant.
a) Luke 22:19-20
b) New Covenant with a New Commandment!!
III. Conclusion
IV. New time: The New Covenant in the life of the church!