Most people will say that the “new commandments” we’ve been given and are expected to follow are:
“Love God with all of your heart.”
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Our Messiah said that these are the greatest commandments.
I agree with this 100%. Love should always be the root that leads us to produce good fruit for Yah’s glory.
But I have a serious question. What is the biblical definition of love? Because according to this world, the word “love” can mean many different things to many different people. Surely this isn’t something that the Most High would want to be left up to our own interpretation. Surely the definition of “love” in Scripture cannot be ambiguous.
After those instructions, our Messiah tells us something that gives us a little more clarification:
“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40).
He said this because every command given to us in Yahuah’s torah are what teach us how to put our love into action. The commandments are actually what defines love.
That’s why He said “if you love Me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
Here’s your second witness:
“Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My torah.”
Isaiah 51:7
And your third witness:
“And now, Israel, what does Yahuah your God require of you, but to fear Yahuah your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve Yahuah your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe Yahuah’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
THAT is the biblical definition of love.
Many people believe that “loving one another” is a New Testament commandment. Interestingly enough, loving your neighbor is not a new commandment at all. Yahusha was reemphasizing what the torah already taught:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Leviticus 19:18
“You shall love Yahuah your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
Yahusha didn’t come to teach us anything “new.” Remember, He said “I don’t speak on my own authority, but for the Father who sent me” (John 12:49). He came to refresh and renew and magnify what had already been given to us by the Father.
He came to renew the covenant, not replace it.
He walked it out perfectly and through His own obedience to the Father’s commands, He taught His followers to do the same.
That’s love.
Love is a “fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10) because only love can generate a true desire for obedience. Keeping the commandments are how we SHOW that we love Yahuah and love our neighbors. Learning how to love in ways the Father desires truly changes everything.
I pray for all believers to be able to see the goodness and freedom that comes from loving the commandments in ways that only Yahuah can reveal.
With love,
Stephanie