Sunday, August 31, 2014

Keeping and Teaching the Commandments

Whoever then breaks or does away with or relaxes one of the least [important] of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven, but he who practices them and teaches others to do so shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19 Amplified  

On the night that He was betrayed and arrested Jesus had a long talk with His disciples. He told them to keep His commandments: If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:15.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. John 15:10.  He was reminding them of what He had spoken of in His Sermon on the Mount. Keep these commandments and teach them to others. We are admonished to do the same thing as we read these passages. Jesus wasn’t just talking about keeping the Ten Commandments. He was talking about applying them in practical ways. Right after this statement, He goes on to share about “murder” that is just not killing one’s physical body, but “murdering” someone’s character with anger. Take a look at some of the verses in which Jesus discusses other commandments. Are these revolutionary approaches to the strict Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses? Are you “teaching” the commandments to others around you? You may not know that you are “teaching”—it is all in the way you live and speak. Our actions do speak louder than our words. What are you “saying” today to your family, friends and neighbors?  Practice and teach Jesus’ words to your family, friends and neighbors. Then you will be called “great” in Heaven. 

RSVP: Jesus is inviting you today to show your love for Him by keeping His Commandments. How will you respond to Him today? 

Prayer ~ Jesus, may my words, thoughts and actions be pleasing to You. Please show me ways that I may simply “teach” Your commandments to my family, whether they are here or far away.

© 2014 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

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