“Law and Love Combining”
I.
Introduction
A. There is
only one rule in our society: there are no rules!
1.
Sounds like: Outback Steakhouse motto—“No rules, just right”
2.
Elderly John’s story at Ephesus: “If you love one another…”
3.
Our postmodern society says that it elevates relationships and devalues
rules
a)
They are only half right
(1) They
elevate feelings and call it “relationship”
(2) Truly,
they devalue “rules”
4.
Do we suffer from a generation of children raised on Dr. Spock
a)
“No spanking” rule to no rules for children
5.
No recognition of the association between husband & wife
a)
May I be so bold as to say, “There would be no divorce courts if men and
women would honor God’s marriage laws”
B. One
of my favorite songs: “Give Me the Bible” with the message that the good news
of Jesus is “law and love combining”
1.
Many laugh sheepishly the first time that they read Lev 19:14 with
cursing the deaf and tripping the blind
2.
We want to see how God combines law and love
II.
Teaching
of Jesus: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18)
A. Mark
12:28-34; Matt 19:19; 22:39 (34-40); 5:43-44
1.
Quoted—Matt 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31, 33; Luke 10:27; Rom 13:9;
Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8
2.
Referred to—Rom 12:9; John 13:34; Matt 7:8-12
B. Description
1.
The royal law (Jas 2:8)
2.
Whole law fulfilled in one word (Gal 5:14)
3.
Love is fulfillment of the law, the commands summed up in one word (Rom
13:8-10)
4.
Many NT commands: “Love one another” & “Love brother”
III. Lev 19—law of
love—specifics!
A. “I am the
Lord”—vv. 2, 4, 10, 12, 14, 16,
18, 25, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37
B. Ten
Commandments repeated
|
#1 & #2—v. 4
|
#6—v. 16
|
#8 & #9—vv. 11-16
|
|
#3—v. 12
|
#7—v. 29
|
#10—v. 18
|
|
#4 & #5—v. 3
|
|
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C. Discussion
of the text
1.
vv. 1-18
a)
Leave gleanings of the field for the poor & travelers
b)
No stealing, lying, cheating, making false oaths
c)
No taking advantage of others’ maladies or service
d)
Render just and fair verdicts
e)
No hating or being vengeful, no bearing grudges
2.
evil acts of hatred
3.
vv. 32-37
a)
Honor the elderly
b)
Do not treat the foreigner wrongly, but love the foreigner
c)
Be honest in business dealings
D. The
commands of Lev 19 are the background for the command “Love your neighbor as
yourself”
1.
Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor
father and mother, & love your neighbor as yourself (from Matt
19:18-19) becomes Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t
defraud, honor father and mother, (Mark 10:19)
a)
Leave food for the poor, pay wages on time, give impartial justice, take
care of foreigners, use honest weights for business
IV. Conclusion
A. In this
election year, we need leaders who honor God’s rules instead of paying
lip-service to them
B. Matt
7:12—God teaches us how to love
1.
Treating others as you want to be treated sums the law & the
prophets
2.
“I would not know how to love except God told me how!”
3.
Therefore, law = instruction
C. The Lord’s
church lives or dies by the command: “Love your neighbor” (cf. John 13:34)
D. Jesus goes
further, “Love your enemy!”