Study 1
Read this introduction
The “Two Great Commandments” came from the lips of the most profound of all teachers — Jesus Christ. As in all his words, he had the capacity to summarise complex and deep thought in simple terms. As a consequence, we readily comprehend him and find our conscience pricked by the direct way his words touch our daily life.
Yet the apparent simplicity of these verses should not blind our eyes to the far reaching effect on our thoughts and actions. We are challenged from complacency — or at least should be! Let us spare no effort to apply these two commands to every area of our private and ecclesial life, as we give examples, exhortation and personal testimony to the way these two simple commands govern every motive.
Note now the order… allegiance to God comes first, then obligation to our neighbour. Yet the commands cannot be separated, for there is a sense in which the second precedes the first! As 1 John 4:19 reads — “We love, because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
Now read Matt. 22:34-40.
- Comment on the background and circumstances of Jesus giving these commandments. Examine Matt. 23 to assess the kind of audience Jesus was addressing.
- Were these words new? If not, can you turn up their first use? (Your Bible margin or a Concordance will help.)
- Note the order… (paragraph 3 above)… and give examples of when the first command would supersede the second.
- Does this first command cover our total obligation to God?
- Consider the following three statements — (they will apply to both commands). Refer to your Concordance and other writers.
“Love” — This is a very general word in Hebrew, and in the Septuagint is translated by “agapao” in 95% of cases. We normally take a narrower view of “agapao” than this.
“Love” — “agapao” — is a love which is sacrificial, yet it is wrong to make too great a distinction between this and “phileo” filial love, for “agapao” is used fairly generally in N.T. Our love should not lack emotional involvement.
“Love” — “phileo” — filial relationships are created by God — do we sometimes consider them “second-rate”? These relationships of Man/ Woman, Parent/Child are raised in our estimation as they are used in Scripture to illustrate spiritual relationships. (e.g. Psalm 103:13)
- Can we love a God who is infinite and unseen? How?
- Did Jesus see us divided into “heart”, “soul” and “mind”?
- Comment very briefly on the original application of the first four commands through Moses — THEN apply each to our own situation.
- (a) No other gods… Exodus 20:2-3 (Matt. 22:37).
- (b) No graven image… Exodus 20:4-5 (John 4:24).
- (c) Name in vain… Exodus 20:7 (Matt. 5:34).
- (d) Sabbath law… Exodus 20:8-11 (Mark 2:27, Luke 13:14-16, Hebrews 4:10).
Do you agree that the first four of the ten, are covered by Jesus’ first command?
Study 2.
Read this introduction
One of the great differences between pagan religion (or paganised Christianity) and the truth in Christ, is that we may draw close to the Eternal God. Peace has been made for us through Christ and we have no cause to live and die in constant terror of an implacable God. We need not sacrifice our children in fire nor cut ourselves with knives nor do “penance” nor endlessly repeat prayers to a set of beads.
Rather, we may become the brethren and sisters of Christ and thereby the children of God in a spiritual family. No other religion than genuine Christianity offers this relationship.
Read John 17:19-21.
The sublime thoughts expressed here are real to everyday life seven days a week — but the challenge is to discover how this can be. How can our mind be upon God when our hands work in a material world?
Note: This study is rather different from No 1, and will require our initiative and insight as we deal largely with three sections of Scripture.
- Consider the introduction above. Do you agree with it? How would you answer the final question?
- READ — EXPLAIN — THEN APPLY the verses listed below. (You will need to ask your own questions in many cases.)
These quotations deal with the sense in which our love for God is a close relationship and an affinity with Him.
- CLOSENESS THROUGH CHRIST
. . . as Christ was close to his Father.
Hebrews 1: 1-3
- Did God feel toward His son as we feel toward our children?
2:10-11
- Compare 5:7-10 with 4:14-16.
- To what extent do we address Christ in our prayers to God?
- Can we testify that this ability of Christ to “sympathize with our weaknesses” has meant something to us in time of particular need?
- What other thoughts do we have on these verses?
- 7:26-27 — Jesus was sinless yet abundantly merciful. We are less perfect. Are we less forgiving? (Compare Matt. 18:23-35.)
- CLOSENESS AS GOD’S CHILDREN
1 John 2:4-6
- John is alluding to some words of Jesus. Can you find them? Compare 1 John 2:15-16.
4:7-12 and v. 15-21.
- Note the words of comfort to God’s children, yet the insistence upon obedience.
- CLOSENESS THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST
Romans 8:5-8
- Do we move all the way from the fleshly life to the spiritual life this side of the Kingdom? Compare
Rom.7:21-25
- :9-11 Are these words literal? Read them in the R.S.V. or other versions.
- :26-27 Have you experienced the comfort of these words?
Daniel The Prophet – (Part 3)