God’s Requirements

Paul taught that love fulfills God’s requirements.  Paul said this in Romans 13:8-10, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

One might say who is my neighbor?  Jesus answered this question in Luke 10:25-37 when He told the story about the Good Samaritan speaking to a lawyer who asked Him what he should do to inherit eternal life.  Read verses 30 through 37 which say this, “Then Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”

For those who may not know this, what I think made this story really hit home for the lawyer was the fact that the Jews hated the Samaritans and he was a Jew.  Jesus was also a Jew so it was probably not what the lawyer expected to hear, so this story probably didn’t set well with him.  In Jesus’ day traveling was always dangerous because of thieves, murderers and wild animals plus they didn’t have paved roads like we have today so you had to be careful while you were traveling the roads.  

This story may have offended this man because his hatred was very strong toward the Jews, but one of the reasons Jesus came was to break the prejudice, animosity and hatred people had for one another and to teach them to love, even their enemies.  The Samaritan is the one who showed real love in this story, caring even for his enemy.  When the story was over Jesus said to the lawyer, “Go and do thou likewise!”  I believe Jesus’ words were meant for every one of us.  

Jesus said this about our enemies in Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”  

Maybe you didn’t think about this before, and it might come as a shock, but Jesus taught that your enemies are also your neighbors.  The thieves, the Levite and the priest in the story showed no compassion.  The Samaritan couldn’t do enough for this Jew that fell prey to the robbers and was beaten, robbed and probably left for dead, even thou he was considered his enemy.  This is a new concept even for me, my enemies are also my neighbors; I may start looking at my neighbors a little differently from now on, thank you Lord.  

These are the things that keep me going, I learn new truths as I study, praise the Lord!  Think of this, if everyone is our neighbor and we love them, we will try to do our best not to harm any of them.  And if we love everyone we will fulfill God’s requirements for our lives.  Something to think about, may God bless you and yours and have a great day!!