Scripture Reading: Romans 13:8–10

Introduction

A. When one considers the constant revelation of God’s wrath in the Old Testament, how could Jesus say that it was really about love from start to finish (Matthew 22:34–40)?

B. The truth is that love sums up every aspect of that law, although few of its subjects (or teachers) ever noticed this fact.

Discussion

I. Love sums up the Ten Commandments.

A. The first four teach us to love God (Exodus 20:3–11).

B. The last six teach us to love our neighbor (vv 12–17).

C. When a person learns to love, these commandments become unnecessary (Galatians 5:14; cf. Jeremiah 31:31).

II. The OT has much to teach us about love if we will listen.

A. It teaches us whom we ought to love (Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 10:19).

B. It teaches us what we ought (Proverbs 12:1; 22:11; 29:3; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:19) and ought not to love (Proverbs 17:19; 20:13; 21:17; Ecclesiastes 5:10; Zechariah 8:17).

C. It extols the virtues of love (Proverbs 10:12; 15:17; 17:17).

D. It tells of the great blessings that accompany love (Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 5:10; 11:13–15, 22–32; 30:15–20).

Conclusion

A. The scribes who taught the law saw only commandments when they read the law that God gave to Israel.

B. Moses himself taught that the law he delivered could be summed up with fearing God and loving Him (Deuteronomy 10:12–13).

C. This is still what our loving God wants from every one of us today.