Post by Watchman on Jul 6, 2006 21:19:00 GMT -5
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34
Does this new commandment replace the Ten Commandments?
Sadly, even many who call themselves Christians believe that Jesus' 'new commandment' replaces the commandments He had kept and taught throuought His ministry. However, if we exmine Jesus' teaching, we will understand the truth.
In His 'Sermon on the Mount', Jesus said:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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. Matthew 5:17-18
What does Jesus mean by fulfil? Does fulfil mean 'do away with' or 'eliminate'? No! Jesus new commandment filled the Law to the full! It 'filled up' God's eternal Law, giving it a spiritual magnification it did not have before.
The Greek translation of this passage expands on the truth:
"Fulfil"
pleroo {play-ro'-o}
1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full
a) to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally
This is from the root pleres {play'-race}
1) full, i.e. filled up (as opposed to empty)
a) of hollow vessels
b) of a surface, covered in every part
c) of the soul, thoroughly permeated with
2) full, i.e. complete, lacking nothing, perfect
Notice in the next few verses Jesus expounded on the spiritual intent of God's commandments:
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Jesus did not do away with the Ten Commandments; He made them an integral part of Chistianity! He magnified them! Jesus said:
'if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.' Matthew 19:17
When Jesus gave the command to 'love one another' was He giving a new commandment? Many are suprised to learn that He is quoting from 'The Book of Holiness':
thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself Leviticus 19:18
What then was new about Jesus' command to love one another? Notice that after Christ told His disciples to love one another He added a new dimension-
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34
They were commanded to love as Jesus had loved them! How was Jesus' love different? The source of Jesus love was the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), which Christ promised to His disciples after His death and resurrection (John 14:16-17). That same night Jesus He told His disciples:
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love. John 15:10
Only with the Holy Spirit can Christians love one another with the very love of God. This is how true Christians can be recognized:
By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35
Jesus Christ is not only the Lamb of God, the sacrafice for our sins; He is our example of how we are to live our lives. His life was perfect love and obedience, even towards those who viciously mistreated Him and crucified Him (Luke 23:34).
Jesus Christs love, obedience, and faith toward His Father fulfilled the first four commandments. His love, service, humility, and concern for others filled up the last six Commandments.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. -Jesus (John 14:15)
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Does this new commandment replace the Ten Commandments?
Sadly, even many who call themselves Christians believe that Jesus' 'new commandment' replaces the commandments He had kept and taught throuought His ministry. However, if we exmine Jesus' teaching, we will understand the truth.
In His 'Sermon on the Mount', Jesus said:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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. Matthew 5:17-18
What does Jesus mean by fulfil? Does fulfil mean 'do away with' or 'eliminate'? No! Jesus new commandment filled the Law to the full! It 'filled up' God's eternal Law, giving it a spiritual magnification it did not have before.
The Greek translation of this passage expands on the truth:
"Fulfil"
pleroo {play-ro'-o}
1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full
a) to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally
This is from the root pleres {play'-race}
1) full, i.e. filled up (as opposed to empty)
a) of hollow vessels
b) of a surface, covered in every part
c) of the soul, thoroughly permeated with
2) full, i.e. complete, lacking nothing, perfect
Notice in the next few verses Jesus expounded on the spiritual intent of God's commandments:
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Jesus did not do away with the Ten Commandments; He made them an integral part of Chistianity! He magnified them! Jesus said:
'if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.' Matthew 19:17
When Jesus gave the command to 'love one another' was He giving a new commandment? Many are suprised to learn that He is quoting from 'The Book of Holiness':
thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself Leviticus 19:18
What then was new about Jesus' command to love one another? Notice that after Christ told His disciples to love one another He added a new dimension-
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34
They were commanded to love as Jesus had loved them! How was Jesus' love different? The source of Jesus love was the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), which Christ promised to His disciples after His death and resurrection (John 14:16-17). That same night Jesus He told His disciples:
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love. John 15:10
Only with the Holy Spirit can Christians love one another with the very love of God. This is how true Christians can be recognized:
By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35
Jesus Christ is not only the Lamb of God, the sacrafice for our sins; He is our example of how we are to live our lives. His life was perfect love and obedience, even towards those who viciously mistreated Him and crucified Him (Luke 23:34).
Jesus Christs love, obedience, and faith toward His Father fulfilled the first four commandments. His love, service, humility, and concern for others filled up the last six Commandments.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. -Jesus (John 14:15)
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13