Lesson Sixty-One: The Law of Love
61.1 If we are going to judge ourselves, there must be a standard or a rule by which we measure. So Jesus said,
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you; do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
This is really another way of saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Leviticus 19:18 This is the Law of Love - the fulfilling of the Law.
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10
61.2 The sentence starts with the word "therefore" and this "therefore" cannot be overlooked. What is it there for? It points back to the things Jesus had just said about judging ourselves to be desperately needy of the good gifts our heavenly Father gives - especially the Holy Spirit. (see previous lesson 60.7) Measuring ourselves by the Law of Love, we could not agree more. How well we keep the Law of Love is the measure of how full of God's Holy Spirit we really are! That is why we ask, seek, and knock so desperately!
61.3 A rabbi (teacher), by the name of Hillel founded a "school" of the Pharisees*. Just before Jesus came, Hillel had said, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor; for this is the whole Law (Torah), and all else is exposition (explanation)." Jesus did not agree. Hillel's law was self-centered, and self seeking; escaping hatred by not bringing it about in the first place. Furthermore it makes ourselves the measure, "what is hateful to you..."
* "school" as in "school of thought"
61.4 Jesus turns everything on its head.
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you; do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
or
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you; keep doing to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.Since we have to keep loving other people this way - whether they respond with kindness or not - the focus is on loving them - not what we might get out of it. Love is the measure.
61.5 The trust of a child is required. Beholding the face of our Father, we can believe that He will give us grace enough to keep Jesus' Law of Love. For He will give us His Holy Spirit and His grace - for the asking.
61.6 Jesus said this Law of Love is the Law and the Prophets! By "the Law and the Prophets", Jesus meant the entire Old Testament.
61.7 It is interesting that Jesus included the prophets. Why did He do that? How could the Law of Love be the fulfilling of "the Law and the Prophets" ?
61.8 Within the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), the people of Israel counted 613 laws (commandments). These laws came to be known as The Law. The first five books of the Bible were called the books of the Law.
61.9 The people of Israel summarized The Law by repeating...
Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5
and
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus 19:18
61.10 The whole history of the people of Israel (in the Old Testament), became the story of how they were unable to keep that Law, mostly because they worshipped false gods. But the prophets said God Himself would make a New (renewed) Covenant. God would put His Spirit in the people and cause them to keep His laws.
Behold the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD; I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 31:31-33
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes (laws), and you will keep My judgments (commandments) and do them. Ezekiel 36:26-27
61.11 Therefore, since we entered into this new covenant by repenting and believing the gospel, and since our Father in Heaven will give us His good Holy Spirit - for the asking - we should be able to keep Jesus' Law of Love. Keeping it fulfills the Law and the Prophets!
61.12 This Law of Love came to be known as "the golden rule" - that is the golden rule - by which we judge - only ourselves!
Discussion: How does keeping the golden rule fulfill the Law and the Prophets ?
Memory Verse: Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you; do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.