“If the love of God is shed abroad in your heart’, says Mr [D.L.] Moody, “you will be able to fulfil the law”. Paul reduces the commandments to one – ‘Thou shalt love”, and says that “love is the fulfilling of the law”. This truth may be demonstrated thus:
- Love to God will admit to no other God.
- Love will not debase the object it adores.
- Love to God will never dishonour His name.
- Love to God will reverence His day.
- Love to parents will honour them.
- Hate, not love, is a murderer.
- Lust, not love, commits adultery.
- Love will give, but never steal.
- Love will not lander nor lie.
- Love’s eye is not covetous.
Principles underlying the Ten Commandments
- Faith and loyalty – Heb 11:6; Matt 4:8-10
- Worship – Jer 10:10-12; Ps 115:3-8; Rev 14:6-7
- Reverence – Ps 111:9; 89:7; Heb 12:28; 2 Tim 2:19
- Holiness, or sanctification, and consecration – 1 Pet 1:15-16; Heb 12:14; Ex 31:13; Eze 20:12; 1 Cor 1:30; Prov 3:6
- Obedience, or respect for authority – Eph 6:1-3; Col 3:20; 2 Kings 2:23-24
- Love – Lev 19:17; 1 Jn 3:15; Matt 5:21-26, 43-48
- Purity – Matt 5:8; Eph 5:3-4; Col 3:5-6; 1 Tim 5:22; 1 Pet 2:11
- Honesty – Rom 12:17; Eph 4:28; 2 Thess 3:10-12
- Truthfulness – Eph 4:25; Col 3:9; Prov 6:16-19; 12:19; Rev 21:27; 22:15
- Contentment and unselfishness – Eph 5:5; Col 3:5; 1 Tim 6:6-11; Heb 13:15
Taken in full from: Bible Readings for the Home Circle, New Edition, Revised and Enlarged, 1921, p. 392, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington DC.