The Commandments of Jesus

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studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,706
594
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#22
[QUOTE="Runningman, post: 4989603, member: 294652"]What if someone asks for your house, car, all of your money, and every last possession you own?

Give it up with a cheerful heart or exercise some wisdom? It seems like there’s some balance here and reason too.[/QUOTE]

First off ----you own nothing ======everything you have comes from God -----God gave you the job that you get your money from to guy all things with ----your just a Stewart of what God Has provided for you

--So if we Put Limits on what we give out ------then God puts limits on what He gives Back =====and NOTICE :------It WILL BE GIVEN ----this is a Promise ---not just a MIGHT be Given ---but WILL BE GIVEN

So we see the pot is full of beans here in the picture ---so you can decide what you want to give and that will be given back to you ------half a pot --will get you a half a pot back ------etc





If we claim to Agape God then we will have no fear in Giving what God tells us to give away -----there is no intellectual reasoning or balance for us to consider -----WE are being Blessed to be a Blessing to others =====and God says if we give with a good heart and the right Motive ---HE will look after us ====

And that is what we need to rely on by and through our Faith and Trust In His Word ----it is fine to say i love God but do you Trust What His Word says ----that is the real TEST ------You have to Step out of your Boat when God calls you to walk on the water -----if you really Agape God your Love will dispel any fear of Giving up what belongs to Him anyway ------

Many say I love God when all is well and the Blessings are pouring in ---- but what do they say when a request comes that might take a possession from them that they need -- or major trouble comes knocking on our Door ---do we still Love God ???????---Will we trust Him to do as He says in His Word ------???????

God says ---all the Gold and all the Silver is mine ------in other words all the money we have came from God ----not Humans -----we are just Stewart's of God's money which buys our possessions -----

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God say all wealth comes from me ------


I say ------So we need to build up our Faith and Trust in God so we can give whatever we are told to Give and not fear Lack in our lives because of our loss of a possession -------that is really God's to give to whom He wishes ----



Lots of Scripture on Giving and God's Promises to look after us ------Faith and Trust in God's Word needs action ---Faith requires a positive responsive ----Obey it ---do as it says ------this takes great maturing in Both Faith and trust ----

I wonder How many of Us would freely give up our house or car or boat or savings or other luxuries that God has bestowed us with and Trust God to look after us ------I would say not many of us -----as we are to attached to our stuff and fear of lack would creep in very quickly ----

We Christians like to Talk the Talk -----but not many Walk the Talk ------
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
2,797
1,596
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#23
Amen. That’s like loving our neighbor as ourselves.
I wrote about this some time ago. I found it (perhaps one should grab a glass of their favorite beverage before continuing… :)

It is helpful for us to compare between the old commandment and the new. The reference to a “new” commandment by implication implies that there was an “old” commandment. So what is the “old” commandment?

The “old” commandment is found in Matthew, chapter 22:34-36, “Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’”

Now, you’ll note that. Indeed, a lawyer, under the law could only ask Him a question about the law. He couldn’t ask Him about the new commandment; he was unaware of the new commandment. So the context of this question and the answer, both have to do with the law. What is the greatest commandment?

Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” (Inserted-Matthew 22:37-40)

His answer, summarized the teachings of the Law and the Prophets and in this, His answer is solidly to be found in the Law. This is the very thing that is to be replaced. But today most people think if you keep the 10 commandments and if you love your neighbor as yourself then you have done everything that God could have required. Now if you look at these two commandments you will immediately observe that they are foundationally different. Why? Because the standard is different.

In the first case the “new” commandment has this as the standard: “…as I have loved you, so you should love one another.” The “old” commandment has this: “With all of your capacity to love so you should love God and so you should love one another.” Well you will notice that the standard of the “old” commandment is, of course, appropriate for the Law because the Law can only require you to do as much as it is possible for you to do. Objectively and theoretically it is possible to keep the Law because it does not require any more than all that you are capable of doing. It doesn’t say, “All that you feel like doing,” nor does it say, “All that you want to do.” It says, “All that you are capable of doing.” So when the Law says, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart...” all of your heart means all of the capacity that lies within you to do. All, in fact, means all. It doesn’t say, “All that you want to do, all that you feel like doing, all that on certain occasions you may be inclined to do.” No, it requires all. So in that sense, the Law and the standard of the Law is not haphazard but it does point out that it is all that is humanly possible. Furthermore, the Law was designed to keep the Jews alive. God could not ask a man to give up his own life under the Law. There was no promise of a new life in the Law. To ask a man to give up his life would be to make the Law unrighteous. A man cannot give up his own life and simultaneously keep his life.

The standard is appropriate for the Law because if the Law asks of anyone more than all then by the existence of the Law you’ve been made lawless. In other words: if it is all plus 10% then the Law makes you lawless because it has exceeded your capacity to respond. But the Law begins and ends with what you can do. And it has a lesser standard for loving your neighbor. Its objective standard regarding loving God is all that you are capable of doing. Its lesser standard in regards to loving your neighbor is, “…as you love yourself.” The presumption is that you love yourself pretty thoroughly. Now what if you didn’t love yourself? The Law simply requires you to love your neighbor in the same fashion, to the same extent.

What is the standard of the new and how is that different? The standard of the new is: “…as I have loved you.”Who is the “I” that is the measurement of this standard? The “I”, of course, is Christ, the one speaking. He is also the Living God. So the standard is: as Jesus has loved us so we are to love one another. Now what if you don’t love yourself? Well that is an irrelevant standard. He didn’t say, “as you love your neighbor, so you should love one another…” or “as I have occasionally loved you so you must love each other.” “As I have loved you” means “I, as God, have loved you perfectly; therefore I require you to love as God loves.” This is a fascinating standard because it’s the same standard for God as it is for man. The standard of love is the same for God as it is for man. That standard of the new commandment makes God and man equal on the matter of love. That’s an incredible observation. On the matter of love, God and man are equal.

Now don’t take my observation for that. Look at this: this is from Matthew5:48, Jesus is speaking. Now this verse of Scripture is very troubling. Matthew 5:48 says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” What we’ve done is we’ve read that verse out of its context and we have inferred meanings to it that it does not mean. For example we’ve inferred that it means “be perfect in power” and so people come up with thoughts like, “if you’re not healed it’s your fault; you don’t have enough faith, you do not exercise enough power.” So if things go badly it’s your fault. God has given you all power, God has given you all faith, and so on, and if you do these things less than perfectly then it is your fault. Well that’s garbage because God would not require us to be perfect in power, whatever power we have is His power given to us, and no one is made "all powerful". Therefore we could only operate in whatever measures of power He has given us. This Scripture is not about being perfect in power; it’s about being perfect in love.

Note the context: jump back to verse 43 “‘You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies…” (so the context is love) “..and pray for those who persecute you…” Now why should you do that and how is this different? You must do that so that you can be sons of your Father in heaven, "..that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” It means that just as natural children resemble their natural parents and the nature of natural children is like the nature of their natural parents, so the nature of the children of God is like the God Who is perfect in love. So it’s not surprising to us that the same standard would apply to God as would apply to us… in the matter of love. So that you will be as sons of your Father in heaven.

And then He gives us some examples of how he loves His enemies and does good for those who persecute Him. “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous…”. Then He contrasts and He says, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that?” In short, to be like your Father in heaven it means that you do not simply love your enemies as you love yourselves or you love your neighbor as yourself; it is that you would love your enemy by preferring them over your own life and in that sense, and within that context it says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

The “old” commandment, under the Law, basically required you to love the extent of your capacity to love… love God as much as you are able and to love your neighbor as you are inclined to love yourself. That’s the “old” commandment. The “new” commandment says, “…as I have loved you.” And it establishes Christ as the standard for love. Christ being the Living God, the standard is the same for God as the standard is for man. Now the reason why the standard is the same is because, according to 2 Peter 1:4, the intent of God is that we be made to be partakers of the divine nature…"

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” and "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature..."

The divine nature, the nature of God, is to love and to love perfectly; to love by preferring the life of another over your own life, to give up your life to God so that God would live through you. Now what’s left unanswered for us is: why? And furthermore, how does this prepare us to overcome the evil one?

Revelation 12:11 “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”) In this respect we are meant to be exactly as God—perfect in love—the same standard that applies to God applies to us and this is the measure that displays the reality that we are partakers of the divine nature.

By this it is abundantly clear that the “new” commandment is not simply the “old” commandment rehashed. It has the elements of a totally different standard, the same standard for God and man.
 
Mar 4, 2020
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#25
Amen, it seems like two inseparable commands in this verse . . . to believe in Jesus, and to love one another.

1 John 3:23 is a pretty useful verse for me for a variety of reasons. I don’t recall that I had ever really noticed it before. Thanks for pointing it out. :)
 
Dec 9, 2011
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#26
GOD gave the ten commandments through Moses and GOD In CHRIST gave the two commandments and sense GOD does not change should we keep the ten commandments and the two commandments also?
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,917
852
113
#27
GOD gave the ten commandments through Moses and GOD In CHRIST gave the two commandments and sense GOD does not change should we keep the ten commandments and the two commandments also?
Love fulfills the law.

That is how Jesus fulfilled the law by His unconditional love for all of us. The perfect sacrifice, His life for ours.

Jesus only gave us two commandments.

1 John 3:23-24
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

The law is pointing to the fulfillment by Jesus in perfect love.

You have a one word vocabulary as a Christian, i.e. love, and unconditional love at that.

Emulate Jesus perfectly.
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,881
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Australia
#28
God is Love..
God gave the laws to reflect His character.
If we perfectly loved God and our neighbors we wouldn't need any laws.

Jesus quoted some of the 10 commandments in Matt 5, and said they would not pass till Heaven and Earth pass away.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

These Psalms are about Gods law. Not something that Needed replacing or to pass away.
= His delight, perfect, forever, truth.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,881
1,231
113
Australia
#29
God = Love
Love for God = love God with all your heart = The first 4 of the 10 commandments = transform us morally and Spiritually.
Love for each other = love your neighbour as yourself. = The last 6 of the 10 commandments = Transform our characters spiritually.

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,114
1,800
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#30
Love fulfills the law.

That is how Jesus fulfilled the law by His unconditional love for all of us. The perfect sacrifice, His life for ours.

Jesus only gave us two commandments.

1 John 3:23-24
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

The law is pointing to the fulfillment by Jesus in perfect love.

You have a one word vocabulary as a Christian, i.e. love, and unconditional love at that.

Emulate Jesus perfectly.
I think I will ask the community this question In a poll
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,985
5,667
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#31
Last night I listened to the book of Matthew. I was looking for how to be more like Jesus. Jesus said a lot of things, but something stood out to me due to how easy it is to practice.

Matthew 7
12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Some people call this the golden rule and often word it like "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." I have heard it often throughout my life. So as I continued my night, keeping this verse in mind, I began seeing many opportunities where I could put this into practice.

Jesus gave many commands and Jesus is our example of who to be like.

John 13:5
15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

1 Peter 2:21
21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 John 2:6
6Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

So do you have any favorite commandments of Jesus that you find are easy to practice any that you want to get better at?
best post ever

I like this concept and understanding Jesus teaches a lot about in many ways I think this concept says alot about God and a lot about man bieng made in his image

“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest:

for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be given into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete withal

it shall be measured to you again.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:35-38‬ ‭

There’s an ultimate justice in that , to me anyways

I love that concept and see it many times in the gospel and in the epistles again and Again

thanks for the great post I’ll be interested to read some of the responses
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,881
1,231
113
Australia
#32
Jesus only gave us two commandments
How do you know Jesus didn't give the 10 commandments. Jesus has always been. If it was Jesus or God that gave the 10 commandments it makes no difference. They are one.
To say .... "because Jesus lived the law and fulfilled the love of the law" .... means the law is no longer needed, or no longer to be kept, or is no longer relavent today is a presumption and a teaching not found in the bible.

The priestly, and sacrifical laws did end because Jesus became the high priest and can offer His own blood.

Jesus did not remove the 10 commandments because He kept them.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#33
So do you have any favorite commandments of Jesus that you find are easy to practice any that you want to get better at?
Want to get better at

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#35
I guess the only one who did it perfectly was Jesus
A bit of a variation here and in the Greek the word for mind is different when the Scribe replies to Jesus. And the word strength is added.

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question

Then I think the Scribe was a bit arrogant in reply but Jesus still said he was "not far from the kingdom".

Scribe says "Well, Master, thou hast said the truth">>>>Sounds like he may have had a chip on his shoulder. These guys were outclassed by a 'guy' they figured to be a country bumpkin. Maybe??? As I understand the only religious one that was sincere was Nicodemus. The Scribe may have been gritting his teeth calling Jesus "Master".???