Part 2: The Heart
5. Where does God promise to write His law?
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:” Hebrews 8:10
“Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” Isaiah 51:7 (For further study see Jeremiah 31:33)
6. How did the Jews keep the law in Christ’s day?
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9
“Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” Titus 1:14 (For further study see Mark 7:7.)
Note: The Jewish people in Christ’s day had many traditions which they regarded more then even the ten commandments. For example, they had a law saying that you could only walk two miles on the Sabbath day, after that it was considered work unless you brought a light snack and stopped at 2 miles to eat your snack, then you could continue another 2 miles. Another time, the Pharisees frowned at Jesus’ disciples when they plucked some corn and ate it. In their minds the Christ’s disciples were harvesting a crop on Sabbath. (See Luke 6:1-5)
7. How are we to keep the law?
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:” 1 Peter 1:22
“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:” Proverbs 3:1
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 (For further study see 1 Corinthians 2:14 )
Note: The Jewish people kept the letter of the law, but God wishes us to keep the Spirit of the law which is love. For without love all is nothing.
unfeigned– genuine or sincere
8. What is the evidence of our love toward God?
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 (For further study see 1 John 5:2, Matthew 7:16 and Romans 2:14-15)
Note: God’s commandments are God’s sign of allegiance. “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve;….” There are only two choices. First, you can serve God by accepting His free gifts of a clean heart and a right spirit. When God has created a clean heart, a heart of love, and renewed a right spirit within you God’s commandments become natural. They are not grievous to those who accept God’s gifts. The only other choice available is serving the Devil by not keeping God’s commandments.