Entire Law Is Summed Up

Galatians 5:13-15 - You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Leviticus 19:18 - " 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Mark 12:31 - The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Conclusions:

• Doing to others what you would have them do to you expresses the spirit and intention of the Law and the Prophets
• Leviticus 19:18 is quoted by Christ, Paul and James
• The stricter Pharisees added to Leviticus 19:18 what they thought it implied: Hate your enemy
• Jesus reaction, love your enemies, was in line with true Old Testament teaching and was more in agreement with the middle-of-the-road Pharisees
• Rabbi Nahmanides caught their sentiments: One should place no limitations upon the love for the neighbor, but instead a person should love to do an abundance of good for his fellow being as he does for himself
• Neighbor does not merely mean one who lives nearby, but anyone with whom one comes in contact
• Jesus joined the commandment from Leviticus 19:18 to show that love for neighbor is a natural and logical outgrowth of love for God
• Seeking to attain status with God and man by mere observance of law breeds a self-righteous, critical spirit
• Liberty is not license but freedom to serve God and each other in love

Application:

• Do you love your neighbor as yourself?
• Do you love to do an abundance of good for your fellow being?
• Do you seek to attain status with God and man by mere observance of the law?
• Do you serve others in love?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible