Love Is Basic to the Law

Yahweh’s truth is more than a set of rules or regula­tions. Yahweh’s truth is a state of mind, an at­titude. For us to truly fol­low Yahweh’s law and Yahshua’s foot­steps we must always remember that the greatest commandments have to do with love. The Savior showed us this in Matthew 22: 34-40, to love Yahweh and love our neighbor.

Without love in our lives Yahweh’s Word would never have an opportunity to truly perfect us. We can see time af­ter time in the Scriptures where Yahweh tells us to love one another and admonish one another in love.

Love is such a small word, yet the meaning is great. Love means never thinking of yourself. Love is having a deep concern for our spiritual family members and show­ing respect for those around us. Love is putting ourselves to the side and helping others first. Love is never selfish, but al­ways giving. Yahweh told us that it is better to give than to receive. Love is the firstfruit of the spirit. “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22). Love is what the entire Law hangs on. “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:40).

Love Over All

In the passage commonly known as the love chapter, the Apostle Paul empha­sizes how necessary love is for the True Worshiper:

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move moun­tains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surren­der my body to the flames, but have no love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self­seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, al­ways perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways be­hind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three re­main: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (lCor. 13: 1-13). This chapter starts out by listing many gifts we can receive through the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in each case, however, that if we have not loved, that the particular gift has gained us nothing.

Love is patient. We must always have patience with our brothers within the faith and those in the world around us. The second quality Paul lists is kindness. That perfection that Yahshua spoke about in Matthew 5:48 is the goal of the True Worshiper. We must al­ways show kindness toward others, just as Yahweh has shown kindness to us.

Let us remember that we have all fallen short of the glory of Yahweh. Paul tells us we are not to envy one another. Through envy comes jealousy. James reminds us that through jealousy come only confusion and every vile deed. “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, or of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disor­der and every evil practice” (James 3:14-16). Paul goes on to say that love is not being rude to the people around us. Remember, the world needs an ex­ample that comes from Yahweh’s Spirit. Love is never self-seeking. We must always think of others before self. Further in the chapter the Apostle says that love is not easily angered, because we are the light to this present-day world. We are the salt of the earth that cannot lose its flavor. Love keeps no score of wrong, Paul writes. We cannot go through life keep­ing a tally on everybody who has ever wronged us in some way. If we forgive then our Heavenly Father will be faith­ful to forgive us. Paul explains that we must always rejoice with the truth and allow Yahweh’s glory to shine in the world around us. Paul lists four more qualities that are essential to our salvation. He tells us we must always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere. The chapter ends with many examples of prophecies, tongues, and knowl­edge – saying that all shall pass away and only three qualities will remain. Those qualities are found in the 13th verse: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Love Not the World

John tells us that we are not to love this present-day world. Those who love the world do not have the love of the fa­ther within them. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of Yahweh abides forever” (lJohn 2:15-17).

Do these verses give us the right to go around hating the world with an unhappy attitude? John tells us that ev­erything that is found within the world is full of man’s sin. Yet, he by no means is telling us that we are to be in a bad attitude concerning the world. One of the fruits of the spirit found within Galatians 5:22 is joy. John shows that we are not to have joy through the sin of this world but through Yahweh’s righteousness. Yahshua the Messiah tells us to lay up our treasure in heaven where it will not pass away. He explains that where our treasure is there will our heart be also. “Lay not up for yourselves trea­sures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for your­selves treasures in heaven, where nei­ther moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).

Let our hearts always be focused upon Yahweh’s righteousness and Kingdom. Paul tells Timothy that nothing is really ours, so be content with food and covering. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can neither carry anything out. And having food and rai­ment, let us be therewith content” (lTim. 6:7-8).

Paul reminds Timothy that we can­not allow ourselves to be caught up in the riches of this world, rather, to be content with what we have. Our hearts and treasure must always be focused upon Yahweh, while being a bright and shining light to this world.

Love Your Enemies

The Messiah told us to love our en­emies and pray for them. “You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy: but I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you” (Matt. 5:43-44). We as Yahweh’s True Believers should always keep our faith in Yahshua the Messiah, and look past one another’s faults, including our en­emies’. We should strive for the perfec­tion that Yahweh wants. Keep in mind that when we were caught up in the sins of this world, we were Yahweh’s enemies. Through the love Yahweh showed us by giving us His only son, and allowing us an atonement for our sins, we try to show the same love to­ward our enemies.

Yahweh tells us that if we keep His commandments we love Him, and those that do not keep his command­ments the love of the father in not in them. “He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keeps his word, in him is the love of Yahweh perfected: hereby know we that we are in him,” l John 2:4-5. “If you love me, keep my command­ments” (John 14:15). The same message is found in John 14:21-24, John 15:9-10, l John 3:24, and l John 5:3. Many other verses show that through obedience to Yahweh’s Word, we are showing Yahweh that we love Him. When we want to show love and re­spect to our earthly parents, we obey them. We show similar respect and love by keeping our Heavenly Father’s com­mandments.

Love Your Neighbor

When Yahshua was asked by a scribe what commandment was foremost, He replied, “The first of all the command­ments is, hear, 0 Israel; Yahweh our Elohim is one master: And you shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

Yahshua shows that the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. We can see that same commandment given by Moses in Leviticus 19:18, “But you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am Yahweh.” What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? It means to love and treat the people we come into contact with as we would want to be treated ourselves. “If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, you shall love your neighbor as your­self, you do well” (James 2:8 ).

The follower of Yahweh will love and respect those around him, includ­ing his enemies. “For if you love them that love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans so? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is per­fect” (Matt. 5: 46-48). By loving your neighbor you are ful­filling the law (Rom. 13:8-10). Yahshua also tells us that there is no greater love than to give the ultimate sacrifice: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” John 15:13. Yahshua demon­strated this by giving his own life so that we would have an atonement for our sins and could appear before him without blemish: “As the Father knows me, even so know I the father: and lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15). “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise Elohim our savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever” (Jude 24-25).

Let us love one another from the heart, and allow Yahweh’s spirit to grow within each one of us. May we remember that with the right heart we are already keeping Yahweh’s com­mandments. May we keep the faith of our only Savior and appear before His throne unblemished. May Yahweh lead us toward his Kingdom.

by Randy Folliard