If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. -James 2:8
The royal law of love, not the Law of Moses, is the divine standard of life. This law, unlike all other laws, reflects the timeless will of God. Moses' commands display something that is not timeless therefore cannot be a reflection of a timeless God who never changes. In truth, if everyone chose to love then no civil law (like Mosaic law) would be required.
I have found that loving God and loving each other is the plumbline of life. Obeying civil law focuses on externals like not stealing or murdering. It pales in comparison to the law of love which speaks to inner issues like not coveting or hating in your heart. Would that this divine law be embraced, instead of laws that are more arbitrary in flavor, by all humans.
Help us Lord to obey the spirit of the law and love each other as you love us.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
I agree that this is the most important of all commandments, as first we see Christ telling the rich young man what he must do in order to obtain eternal life. (Matthew 19:16-26). Christ quips with the young man, asking him if he knows the law. The young man does not appear to have perceived Christ's articulate invitation to this mystery of eternal life, the Kingdom of God, Heaven. He is stirred up, perplexed. "The commandments? Which?" Christ offers to list the ancient Decalogue as inscribed in Exodus, the Old Book, and He is content to add the greatest of all commandments: love your neighbour as yourself. Unfortunately, this was not the resolution to his problem. It is the story of the young property owner who was reluctant to sell everything he owned to give to the poor, and follow Christ. "It is easier for a camel...."
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Angelina. I love the way that the Decalogue is all about what loving God (commands 1-4) and loving people (5-10) looks like. Love is the law by which all other laws are measured by.
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