{"id":4010,"date":"2021-09-04T17:25:38","date_gmt":"2021-09-04T23:25:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/?p=4010"},"modified":"2022-11-11T14:39:59","modified_gmt":"2022-11-11T21:39:59","slug":"love-comes-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/love-comes-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Love Comes First"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
The greatest commandment is to acknowledge the one God and to love the Lord your God. (Deut 6:4-5) Jesus affirmed that the most important commandment is, “‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 There is no other commandment greater than these.\u201d (Mark 12:28-31) To love God and to love one’s neighbor as oneself is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33) This perspective brings us close to the kingdom of God. (Mark 12:34) We should understand what it means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’ for Jesus came not to call the righteous but sinners. (Mat 9:13) To inherit eternal life, we should read the law as, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength and all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:25-28) Jesus said, “Do this, and you will live.” (Luke 10:28) The new commandment that Jesus gave us is that we love one another: just as he has loved us, we should also love one another. (John 13:34) This is how we are identified as his disciples: we love one another. (John 3:35)<\/p>
By this, it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:10) For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 John 3:11) The commandment of God is that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus and love one another, just as he commanded us.\u00a0 (1 John 3:23) In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (Gal 5:6) Through love, we are to serve one another – for the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal 5:13-14) Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (Rom 13:8) The commandments, \u201cYou shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,\u201d and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: \u201cYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d (Rom 13:9) Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Rom 13:10) If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, \u201cYou shall love your neighbor as yourself,\u201d you are doing well. (Jam 2:8)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
4<\/sup> \u201cHear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one<\/strong>. 5<\/sup> You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might<\/strong>.<\/p> 28<\/sup> And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, \u201cWhich commandment is the most important of all?\u201d 29<\/sup> Jesus answered, \u201cThe most important is, \u2018Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one<\/strong>. 30<\/sup> And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength<\/strong>.\u2019 31<\/sup> The second is this: \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 There is no other commandment greater than these.\u201d<\/strong> 32<\/sup> And the scribe said to him, \u201cYou are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33<\/sup> And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices<\/strong>.\u201d 34<\/sup> And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, \u201cYou are not far from the kingdom of God.\u201d And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.<\/p> 13<\/sup> Go and learn what this means: \u2018I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.\u2019 For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 25<\/sup> And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, \u201cTeacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?<\/strong>\u201d 26<\/sup> He said to him, \u201cWhat is written in the Law? How do you read it<\/strong>?\u201d 27<\/sup> And he answered, \u201cYou 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<\/strong>.\u201d 28<\/sup> And he said to him, \u201cYou have answered correctly; do this, and you will live<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 6<\/sup> For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love<\/strong>.<\/p> 13<\/sup> For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another<\/strong>. 14<\/sup> For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: \u201cYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d<\/strong><\/p> 8<\/sup> If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, \u201cYou shall love your neighbor as yourself,\u201d you are doing well<\/strong>.<\/p> 34<\/sup> A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another<\/strong>. 35<\/sup> By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 10<\/sup> By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother<\/strong>.\u00a011<\/sup> For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.<\/p> 23<\/sup> And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.<\/p> 8<\/sup>Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law<\/strong>. 9<\/sup> For the commandments, \u201cYou shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,\u201d and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: \u201cYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d<\/strong> 10<\/sup> Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t When Jesus was asked by a rich man in Matthew 19:16-21, \u201cWhat good deed must I do to have eternal life,\u201d he said, \u201cIf you would enter life, keep the commandments.\u201d But when questioned about which ones, Jesus did not say all of them or the entire law of Moses. He only mentioned six commandments. Five of them are from the ten commandments including, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, and Honor your father and mother, and he added, \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 Rather than appealing to the entire law, he appealed to these select group of commandments consistent with his teachings of righteousness.<\/p> The man said, \u201cAll these I have kept, What do I still lack?\u201d Jesus further states in Matthew 19:21, \u201cIf you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.\u201d Here we see Jesus\u2019 standard is not the entire Mosaic Law, but those principles of God\u2019s law that pertain to loving humanity and living a selfless life. If Jesus believed the 613 commands of the Mosaic law were critical, this would have been the perfect opportunity to say so. Rather, Jesus\u2019 prescription was to focus on the principles of goodness that pertain to love and charity. Jesus’ standard of perfection was living a selfless life as a servant – not complete conformance to the law of Moses.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 16<\/sup>\u00a0And behold, a man came up to him, saying, \u201cTeacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?\u201d\u00a017<\/sup>\u00a0And he said to him, \u201cWhy do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.\u201d\u00a018<\/sup>\u00a0He said to him, \u201cWhich ones?\u201d And Jesus said, \u201cYou shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness<\/strong>,\u00a019<\/sup>\u00a0Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a020<\/sup>\u00a0The young man said to him, \u201cAll these I have kept. What do I still lack?\u201d\u00a021<\/sup>\u00a0Jesus said to him, \u201cIf you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Jesus said, \u201cLove your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods, do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.\u201d (Luke 6:27-31) He explained, \u201cIf 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.\u201d (Luke 6:32-34) Rather, he instructed us, \u201clove 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.\u201d (Luke 6:35) We are to be merciful, even as our Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36) Jesus said, \u201cJudge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.\u201d (Luke 6:37-38)<\/p> If anyone heard the words of Christ and did not keep them, he did not judge them; for he did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. (John 12:47) The one who rejects Christ and does not receive his words has a judge; the word that he had spoken will judge them on the last day. (John 12:48) For Jesus did not speak on his own authority, but the Father who sent him had himself given him a commandment\u2014what to say and what to speak. (John 12:49) God\u2019s commandment is eternal life – What Jesus said, he thus said as the Father has told him. (John 12:50) As believers, do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. (1Cor 4:5) By this the Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be disciples of Christ. (John 15:8) Jesus said, \u201cAs the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.\u201d (John 15:9-10) If anyone says, \u201cI love God,\u201d and hates another, he is a liar; for he who does not love others cannot love God. (1 John 4:20) This commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:21)<\/p> Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:1) Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Rom 5:2) Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, given to us. (Rom 5:5) The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14:17) Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Rom 14:19) There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear – whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God – and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7) Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)<\/p> Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. (1Cor 8:1) If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know – But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. (1Cor 8:2-3) If we do not have love, w<\/span>e are nothing if we operate in great faith and spiritual gifts. (1Cor 13:1-2) If we give up our bodies to be burned but have no love, we gain nothing. (1Cor 13:3) Love is patient, love is kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (1Cor 13:4-6) Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1Cor 13:7) Love is lasting into the ages. (1Cor 13:8) We should abide in faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love. (1Cor 13:13) Let all that you do be done in love. (1Cor 16:14) Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (Jude 1:21) Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, who makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph 4:15-16) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (Eph 4:31) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph 4:32)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u00a027<\/sup> \u201cBut I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you<\/strong>, 28<\/sup> bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you<\/strong>. 29<\/sup> To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30<\/sup> Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back<\/strong>. 31<\/sup> And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.<\/strong>32<\/sup> \u201cIf you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33<\/sup> And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34<\/sup> 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. 35<\/sup> 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<\/strong>. 36<\/sup> Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.<\/strong> 37<\/sup> \u201cJudge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven<\/strong>; 38<\/sup> give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 47<\/span>\u00a0If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>48<\/span>\u00a0The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span>49<\/span>\u00a0For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment\u2014what to say and what to speak.\u00a0<\/span>50<\/span>\u00a0And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.\u201d<\/span><\/p> \u00a0 5<\/sup> Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God<\/b>.<\/p> 8<\/sup> By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9<\/sup> As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love<\/strong>. 10<\/sup> If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love<\/strong>.<\/p> 20<\/span>\u00a0If anyone says, \u201cI love God,\u201d and hates his brother, he is a liar<\/strong>; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.\u00a021<\/span>\u00a0And this commandment we have from him:\u00a0whoever loves God must also love his brother<\/strong>.<\/p> 18<\/span>\u00a0There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear<\/strong>. For fear has to do with punishment, and\u00a0whoever fears has not been perfected in love<\/strong>.<\/p> 1<\/span>\u00a0Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,\u00a0we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong>.\u00a02<\/span>\u00a0Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand<\/strong>, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.\u00a03<\/span>\u00a0Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,\u00a04<\/span>\u00a0and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,\u00a05<\/span>\u00a0and hope does not put us to shame, because\u00a0God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us<\/strong>.<\/p> 17<\/span>\u00a0For\u00a0the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit<\/strong>.\u00a018<\/span>\u00a0Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.\u00a019<\/span>\u00a0So then\u00a0let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p> 6<\/span>\u00a0do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.\u00a07<\/span>\u00a0And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus<\/strong>.\u00a08<\/span>\u00a0Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,\u00a0whatever is lovely<\/strong>, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.\u00a09<\/span>\u00a0What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me\u2014practice these things,<\/strong>\u00a0and the God of peace will be with you<\/strong>.<\/p> 1<\/span>\u00a0Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that \u201call of us possess knowledge.\u201d This\u00a0\u201cknowledge\u201d puffs up, but love builds up<\/strong>.\u00a02<\/span>\u00a0If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know<\/strong>.\u00a03<\/span>\u00a0But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.<\/strong><\/p> 1<\/span>\u00a0If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.\u00a02<\/span>\u00a0And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.\u00a03<\/span>\u00a0If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing<\/strong>. <\/p> 14<\/span>\u00a0Let all that you do be done in love<\/strong>.<\/p> \u00a0\u00a020<\/span>\u00a0But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,\u00a021<\/span>\u00a0keep yourselves in the love of God<\/strong>,\u00a0waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life<\/strong>.\u00a0Mark 12:28-34 (ESV), To love – is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifice<\/strong><\/h3>
Matthew 9:13 (ESV), Go and learn what this means: \u2018I desire mercy, and not sacrifice<\/h3>
Luke 10:25-28 (ESV), You shall love the Lord your God, and your neighbor as yourself<\/strong><\/h3>
Galatians 5:6 (ESV), In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything<\/h3>
Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV), he whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”<\/h3>
James 2:8 (ESV), If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, you are doing well<\/h3>
John 13:34-35 (ESV), By this all people will know that you are my disciples<\/h3>
1 John 3:10 (ESV), Not of God – the one who does not love his brother<\/strong><\/h3>
1 John 3:23 (ESV), That we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another<\/h3>
Romans 13:8-10 (ESV),\u00a0The one who loves another has fulfilled the law<\/h3>
Jesus\u2019 standard of perfection<\/h2>
Matthew 19:16-21 (ESV),\u00a0If you would be perfect<\/strong><\/h3>
Abide in Love<\/h2>
Luke 6:27-38 (ESV), Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you<\/strong><\/h3>
John 12:47-50 (ESV), I did not come to judge the world but to save the world<\/h3>
1 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV),\u00a0do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes<\/h3>
John 15:8-10 (ESV), Abide in my love<\/strong><\/h3>
1 John 4:20-21 (ESV)\u00a0whoever loves God must also love his brother<\/h3>
1 John 4:18 (ESV)\u00a0There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear<\/strong><\/h3>
Romans 5:1-5 (ESV),\u00a0God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit<\/strong><\/h3>
Romans 14:17-19 (ESV), Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding<\/strong><\/h3>
Philippians 4:6-9 (ESV), The peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus<\/h3>
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (ESV),\u00a0If anyone loves God, he is known by God<\/strong><\/h3>
1 Corinthians 13 (ESV),\u00a0faith, hope, and love abide – the greatest of these is love<\/strong><\/h3>
4<\/span>\u00a0Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant<\/strong>\u00a05<\/span>\u00a0or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;<\/strong>\u00a06<\/span>\u00a0it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.<\/strong>\u00a07<\/span>\u00a0Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.\u00a0<\/strong>8<\/span>\u00a0Love never ends.<\/strong>\u00a0As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.\u00a09<\/span>\u00a0For we know in part and we prophesy in part,\u00a010<\/span>\u00a0but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.\u00a011<\/span>\u00a0When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.\u00a012<\/span>\u00a0For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.\u00a013<\/span>\u00a0So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love<\/strong>.<\/p>1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV),\u00a0Let all that you do be done in love<\/strong><\/h3>
Jude 1:20-23 (ESV), \u039aeep yourselves in the love of God<\/h3>