Love the Commandments

Love the Commandments

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:19.

What is our attitude of heart toward Jesus’ commandments? Do we regard them as great and glorious? Do we keep them and teach others to keep them? We will be great or small in the kingdom of heaven for all eternity according to whether we keep them and teach others to keep them. Our attitude of heart toward the commandments either reveals our love for Jesus and our fellow men, or for the world and ourselves.

“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.” John 14:21.

In the old covenant God had intimate fellowship with those who feared and loved Him and kept His commandments. They have received an eternal and great name because of their faithfulness.

The apostles will appear as great men of God in all eternity because they kept Jesus’ commandments out of love and with joy, and they worked day and night to get others to keep them.

Now it is possible for us to be united with them in this eternal greatness. We truly have a high and holy calling; we have something to live for. We have to deal with great and small commandments from morning till evening. We can receive abundant power to keep them and teach others to keep them. A mother can gain this eternal greatness in her work with the children. If she keeps Jesus’ laws with joy, she can—together with Paul—say to her children, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:9. There are few such mothers, and there have always been few such men and women of God, but they will be that much greater in eternity.

Only those who keep Jesus’ commandments from the heart are blessed people on this earth. Blessedness can only be united with Jesus’ commandments. Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above His brethren, and the whole Sermon on the Mount was His life. He could truly say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . . Blessed are those who mourn . . . . Blessed are the meek . . . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness . . . . Blessed are the merciful . . . . Blessed are the pure in heart . . . . Blessed are the peacemakers . . . . Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake . . . . Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt. 5.

We see that Jesus was blessed under all kinds of circumstances, and in His great love for us He invites us to have fellowship with Him in the same life and blessedness. The more meek, righteous, merciful, and peaceful we become, the more blessed we are. Those who love their enemies and always let their sun rise over the evil and the good are also very blessed. However, the opposite does not result in much blessedness, even though one constantly prays for the forgiveness of sins.

“Judge not . . . !” Matt. 7:1. Think of the multitude of pain and agonies one is spared by loving this commandment and keeping it diligently, and think about all the wretchedness from which we save others by teaching them this commandment. Judging and criticizing are always accompanied by cursing and an unpleasant atmosphere.

You say that it is impossible to keep all of Jesus’ commandments. Where have you read that, and from whom have you heard it? You have not read it in the Scriptures, and you have not heard it from a single true man or woman of God. From where have you heard it then?

Jesus’ commandments are eternal life. They are written in our hearts as laws of the Spirit of life. Every commandment is light and life; it is a part of God’s nature and wisdom. Their effect is revolutionary, and they turn everything upside down that we have thought or done before. If they become part of our life as divine nature, they will sparkle and shine like marvelous lights from our lives for all eternity, and the people on the new earth will walk in this light. Rev. 21:24.

Paul was aware of the great significance of keeping Jesus’ commandments when he wrote as strongly as he possibly could, “I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing.” 1 Tim. 6:13-14.

We are not powerless when it concerns the laws and commandments of the new covenant. “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness . . . .” 2 Pet. 1:3. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13. “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.” Eph. 1:19.

“Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Matt. 28:18-20.

Most preachers don’t get anything more out of this commandment of Jesus’ than that they should baptize as many as possible, in which case it would be better if they simply stayed at home.

May it be our great and only task in life to observe everything Jesus has commanded, and then teach others to observe everything He has commanded. Then we will experience that He who has all power in heaven and on earth is with us all our days. We will grow strong in all the virtues of Christ, and then we can proclaim them to others with power and joy.