Master, which is the great commandment in the law? – Matthew 22:36 KJV

Commandment

צָוָה tsä·vä’ 

• – to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order

The King James Version of the Bible uses ‘Master,’ rather than teacher in this most important question. Our contemporary culture dilutes both the teaching component of leadership and the degree of its authoritarian necessity.

A teacher, father, president or king may give a command, but obedience depends on a relationship between the master and one receiving the command.

Commandment implies both authority and relationship.

From before creation and man, God was and IS in charge. The Lord commanded Adam not to desire to know of good and evil; but now obedience to God requires discernment between good and evil. 

Now command comes to man less directly through other men and women. Though implicit authority of command requires obedience, mortal men command those with whom we have relationship and assume responsibility. Ultimately, our authority relates to God, even when spoken through the command of others.

Law and Scripture also imply the Authority of the Lord God. Obedience, however, will follow only out of our love of  God. Respect, honor and obedience to a ‘commander’ of mortals ultimately reflects their relationship with Almighty God.

Although we will not examine it here, the Authority of God the Holy Spirit also commands those who accept the Lord as our loving Master.

“Which is the greatest commandment…?”

Christ Jesus answers quoting the law of Moses, who was given authority by God Almighty

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:5

Command: Love the Lord your God. What an appropriate answer for all of us. So simple.

Jesus answers our question about obedience at the most personal level. Not a specific detail of law, but a relationship with God as our Lord. 

Moses states God’s commandment reminding faithful servants to love THE EXISTING ONE, THE LORD.

Returning to the LORD יְהֹוָה

DEUTERONOMY 30:

“When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses…

Look back before the Law and you will discover that command was simple, specific, relational and purposeful. The LORD is our Maker and our Master.

Yet Moses reminds the Lord’s followers:

11 “This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach.

12 It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 13 And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’

14 But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.

The Relationship of Command to Obedience

The Father-Son relationship provides a good illustration of the loving advocacy for the commanded son. The Hebrew followers of Moses viewed him as a father like Abraham, with the authority of God the Father.

‘Obey me: to be blessed, or safe, or that you (my children) might prosper.’

Moses continues: 15 See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity.

16 For I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you do not listen and you are led astray to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I tell you today that you will certainly perish and will not live long in the land you are entering to possess across the Jordan.

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.

Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 love the Lord your God, obey Him, and remain faithful to Him.

For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

The Command of the LORD includes Commandments of the Law

Moses had led the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt. Many credit him for saving Israel, but the Nations witnessed that their Savior IS the LORD.

God gave this new nation a Commandment and Law through Moses. The LORD gave rules and regulations to be judged and administered by leaders; initially Moses, Aaron and God’s anointed elders. 

Next, we will briefly examine the Commandments and the Law of Moses. 

---

To be continued…