Lesson 14

The rules and laws God had Moses give to the children of Israel were detailed and covered all aspects of religious life, as well as how to conduct their public and personal affairs. All these precepts were rooted in his ten commandments. Jesus summed these ten down to two basic principles to live by.

Matthew 22:36-40 1599 Geneva Bible

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? 37 Jesus said to him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and the great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hangeth the whole Law and the Prophets.

Jesus knew pleasing God came from loving him and others. When reading the Old Testament’s rules and regulations, some believe most of those laws need to be kept and followed today. Christians recognise Jesus, as the ultimate sacrifice, replaced all of the ordained animal sacrifices. At times Christians can get caught up in believing the other ordinances should still apply to them.

An example of this might be the law of tithing. Many Christians believe offering ten percent of their income is a requirement of God. Most who teach this as a rule, often neglect the second and third tithe requirements of God’s laws. If the first tithe is still required, then the second and third tithe should be just as binding, along with what the 2nd and 3rd tithes were ordained to pay for. Loving your neighbour as yourself will make you a generous person to those around you. When your heart is generous you won’t need a law to tithe because you’ll already be fulfilling the spiritual intent.

Romans 3:20 Easy-to-Read Version

20 because no one can be made right with God by following the law. The law only shows us our sin.

Many have been lured into legalism and keeping rules for the rules sake, rather than acting from a heart of love and letting love fulfill the law as its byproduct. What products are shown by your faith and love? What do they do for others? 

Romans 13:10 English Standard Version

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:10 Lexham English Bible

10 Love does not commit evil against a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.