This is our second week in considering John 14:21. It reads:
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Last week, I discussed the first part of this passage, which challenges us to have His commandments. In order to have Jesus’s commandments, we need to know what are, and what are not His commandments. As I said last week, there are many opinions on this. When asked, some will say the phrase, “My commandments” refers to the Ten Commandments. Modern Judaizers say it refers to the entire law of Moses. Some say it refers to the non-ceremonial portion of the law of Moses. Others say it refers to the Greatest Commandment given in Matthew 22; to love God with all your being, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Last week, I reviewed many scriptures to establish our freedom from the authority and condemnation from the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses. Now, I want to address the last opinion, which is says the reference to “My commandments” points to the Greatest Commandment given in Matthew 22.
The Greatest Commandment
Jesus was once challenged by a lawyer. The lawyer asked Him a question to test Him. He said, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matt 22:37-40
In Mark 12:31, Jesus added to this, saying, “There is no other commandment greater than these.”
So the question arises, “Is this “greatest commandment” what Jesus referred to when He mentioned “My commandments” in John 14:21? My answer is, “No.” The reason the answer is, “No” is found in Luke 16, where Jesus said,
“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. Luke 16:16-17
The lawyer asked what was the Greatest Commandment in the Law. Jesus didn’t separated the Greatest Commandment from the law. Jesus said, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” And Jesus said :the law and the prophets were until John.”
Last week, we covered our freedom from the Law. And like the law, the Greatest Commandment also condemned us. We couldn’t keep the Law of Moses, and we can’t keep the Greatest Commandment. It requires us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Is your heart of mind so pure that you can obey this? Our mind is constantly tempted to please the flesh. Once you covet, you’ve violated this greatest commandment.
If the greatest commandment was the culmination of all of God’s will, they why did Jesus give us a new commandment in John chapter 13?
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34
This new commandment is confirmed in 1 John 3;
“And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” 1 John 3:23
Take the word, “this’, and underline it. Then make it bold, and flashing in red. THIS is His commandment, to believe in Jesus and to love one another as He gave us commandment. The ending phrase, “as He gave us commandment”, refers back to John 13:34, where Jesus said;
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34
The first aspect of the His Commandment in 1 John 3 is to believe in the name of Jesus. This sets us free from the law and gives us righteousness by faith. The Greatest Commandment, though holy, couldn’t save us. This new commandment brings us eternal life and salvation. Without faith in Jesus, one remains condemned in sin.
New Testament Commands
To find New Testament commands, seek out scriptures that define them as commandments. It is a mistake to define every instruction as a commandment. Some internet sites say there are 1,050 commands in the New Testament. There were only 613 commandments in the Old Testament.
They arrive at the 1,050 count by including every instruction, even if those verses aren’t defined as a commandment. Why would Jesus die to set us free from the law, and then place us under more commands than were found in the law? He didn’t.
The following passages are specifically defined as commands:
1. "Indeed, then, having before overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all men everywhere to repent," Acts 17:30.
The law of Moses was given to specifically to Israel. Then, in the gospels, Jesus said He came for the lost sheep of Israel. But in Acts 17, the command to repent goes worldwide.
2. "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith . . . . " Rom 16:25,26
Note: This refers to the Great Commission;
"Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you.’" Matt 28:18-20
Notice, teaching Jesus’s commandments is part of the great commission. And take note that Jesus says, “whatever I commanded you.” He doesn’t say, “teach the law”.
4. " Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.” 1 Cor 7:10-12
Note: This tightens up the divorce laws found in the Law of Moses. And take note of verse 12 which says, “But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: . ” Between verses 10 and 12, we see a clear division between a commandment of the Lord, and a good instruction.
5. "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.” 1 Cor 14:26-37
Note: This is a command for how our church services should be conducted. If we reject this command by saying the gifts are gone, then we nullify a commandment of the Lord.
6. Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit." 1 Thess 4:1-8
Note: Although we are not under the Law of Moses, we couldn’t define sexual immorality without referring to the Law. However, the authority over us now, against sexual immorality, comes from this passage.
7. "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this, that if anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat. For we hear that some are walking in an unruly way among you, not working at all, but being busybodies. Now by the Lord Jesus Christ we command and urge these that they ought to be working with quietness, that they may eat their own bread." 2 Thess 3:10-12
8. "This is His commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as He commanded." 1 John 3:23
Note: THIS is His commandment! Instead of referring to some portion of the law of Moses, or to the ‘greatest’ commandment, the scripture says this is His commandment. It’s interesting that these two aspects, to believe and love, are spoken of as a single commandment. While the Greatest Commandment was the core of the law and prophets, I believe this command is the sum of the New Testament.
9. “I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another. Even as I have loved you, so you also should love one another." John 13:34.
Note: Hebrews 8:13 says that when Jesus gave us His new covenant, that the old covenant became obsolete. Immediately after giving us the new covenant, He gave us this new commandment. The old commandment told us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
This new commandment raises the bar, telling us to love as He loved us.
When Jesus gave us this commandment, the church was a new creation, and God places every creation under authority. So here, Jesus placed the church under authority. Jesus repeated this command again in John 15:12 and 15:17.
In 1 John 3, we have an explanation of what it means to love as Christ loved us.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:12-14
To love as Christ loved means being willing to lay down our life for Him, and for one another Christian. Throughout the last 2,000 years, Christians have been tortured to force them to recant their faith, and to reveal the names of other Christians. They gave their lives for their brethren. I read one account were Christians met secretly in forests, without learning each other’s names. They did this to keep from revealing each other under torture or threat of death.
10. "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: withdraw from every brother who is walking in an unruly way, and not according to the teaching which he received from us." 2 Thess 3:6
Keeping His Commandments
This sermon focuses on John 14:21;
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Jesus connects keeping His commands with loving him. A few verses earlier, Jesus told his disciples,
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15
Keeping His commands is the proper expression of our love for Christ. New Testament obedience is a response of love.
There are many other verses that speak about Jesus’s commandments. Here are a few:
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:12-14
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1 John 2:3
He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His
commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. 1 John 3:24
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and
keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His
commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:2-3
“His commandments are not burdensome.” The law was described by Peter as, “a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear”. The law was a burden.
If you find more New Testament commands, wonderful. Just don't use them to nullify the ones mentioned earlier. New Testament commands are not a burden, but are commands we can obey - if we love Him.
