We
were given a new commandment by Jesus. It is only for his disciples and his
friends. It is a clear commandment, yet it may have gotten lost in the context
as the events surrounding Jesus’ commandment seem to be of greater importance. How
things are said in context can make a big difference in religious
interpretation. Some people quote verses
and use them as tools to promote their ideas.
Yet if a verse is read in context it may have a different meaning. Many years ago a Bible teacher was fond of
pointing out that the Bible actually says “there is no God”. It is true, in several places the Bible says
that very thing, however in context it does not mean what one might think.
Ps
14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they
have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.KJV
Therefore,
it is important to note the context of the ideas promoted in the Bible. Jesus gave us a “new commandment”; a new one,
not an edited one, or a repeated one, but a brand new commandment. When Jesus speaks and tells disciples what to
do, we should decide if we are disciples or not. If we are, we should do what he says. If we are not disciples we don’t need to do
what he says. It is our choice to be disciples or not. If we are His disciples, we are to follow
this new commandment.
John
13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another.35 By this shall all men know that ye
are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.KJV
This
new commandment gets lost in the dramatic context of the events of the evening
of the last supper. Judas was exposed as
the betrayer; Jesus announces that where he’s going they couldn’t come just yet;
Jesus gives a new commandment; Peter wants to know where he’s going; Jesus
tells Peter he will deny him. If we
could make this new commandment a neon sign, we might have caught it
sooner. Let’s read the context.
John
13:26-38 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have
dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the
son of Simon.27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto
him, That thou doest, do quickly.28 Now no man at the table knew for what
intent he spake this unto him.29 For some of them thought, because Judas had
the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of
against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.30 He then
having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.31 Therefore,
when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is
glorified in him.32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in
himself, and shall straightway glorify him.33 Little children, yet a little
while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I
go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.34 A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another.36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered
him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me
afterwards.37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will
lay down my life for thy sake.38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy
life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow,
till thou hast denied me thrice.KJV
If
we believe Jesus is the son of the Living God, and we claim to be disciples, we
are to do what he commanded. Shortly
after stating this, Jesus tells us that if we love Him we are to keep his
commandments.
John
14:15-21 If ye love me, keep my commandments.16 And I will pray the Father, and
he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him
not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall
be in you.18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.19 Yet a
little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye
shall live also.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in
me, and I in you.21 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.KJV
And
again, before Jesus is taken away he reiterates that if we love Him we will
keep His commandments. We are to keep which commandments? This new commandment
of love. If we keep Jesus’ commandments
we love Him. Can we really love Jesus if
we disregard what he says and go back to making traditions, religion, laws, and
ordinances more important than Jesus’ new commandment?
John
15:9-15 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my
love.10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have
kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.11 These things have I
spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be
full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved
you.13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends.14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.15 Henceforth I
call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I
have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have
made known unto you.KJV
If
you think of yourself as His friend, or you call yourself His friend, you will
do what he commands. To drive the point home, whose commandments are we to
keep? We are to keep Jesus’ commandments.
Let’s read the definition of this
word commandment.
NT:1785
entole (en-tol-ay'); from NT:1781; injunction, i.e. an authoritative
prescription: KJV - commandment, precept.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994,
2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:1785
entolee, entolees, hee an order, command, charge, precept 1. universally,
a charge, injunction: Luke 15:29 2. a
commandment, a. universally, Heb
7:16 b. ethically
what God prescribes in the law of Moses, Matt 15:3 of the precepts of Jewish
tradition: Titus 1:14 universally, of the commandments of God, especially as
promulgated in the Christian religion: 1 John 3:23(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon,
Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights
reserved.)
This
is not a suggestion, or a figure of speech.
In the very last hours of His life on earth, he gave us all a new
commandment. During the stress of
knowing what was to come, his brutal murder; he spoke the most important words
for us to hear, a new commandment. If I
was to be murdered, and I knew the time was drawing near, I’d probably say
something important to my friends and family.
Whatever my last requests were, I would expect them to be carried out if
the people I was speaking to were my friends and they loved me.
There
are a lot of people that receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior and then follow
the Old Testament Laws, believing that somehow following the laws Moses gave
makes them “more saved”. There is
nothing wrong with following the Old Testament Law if one chooses. While it is not a personality disorder to put oneself under rules for life, it is a
comfort to many who find living under a new commandment of love too
ambiguous. It does become a personality
disorder when the law followers then
try to control everyone else to do what they do. The problem for law followers
is that the laws that make them feel safe become a tool to judge, hate,
persecute, and beat down other people who do not follow the Law of Moses. Have you ever known of anyone who follows the
law of the Old Testament to feel perfectly happy that you don’t follow the law
like they do? I haven’t. Typically, the non-law follower is always
told, via using scripture out of context, that they are living the wrong
way. The law follower does this because
they have not known about the new commandment Jesus gave to those who are his
disciples and friends. Therefore, when
we come across those people who want to beat us into following the law of the
Old Testament, we can see that they are not disciples of Jesus or His
friends.
I
am pointing this out because in the context of the verses we will look at, we
will see who the Old Testament law is for, and it is not for the disciples and
friends of Jesus. I think law followers believe that one is not
a disciple unless one follows Mosaic Law. Is there a ministry of judging others
according to the Law of Moses in the Bible; apostles, prophets, evangelists,
law judges, pastors, teachers? Disciples
follow Jesus’ commandment, his new commandment.
Many do not understand this, but it was Jesus who gave the first
commandments. Remember, no man has seen God (the Father) at any time except the
son. Who was Moses talking to? Not the Father, but the Son; the one who is
the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the I Am. Jesus testified of this himself. The same one
who gave the laws to Moses, walked and talked with Abraham as a friend; again,
that was Jesus. This is why Jesus could fulfill the law and give a new
commandment, because he was the one who gave the first commandments and he is
the one who gives the new commandment. As
people fell into following traditions, they were actually finding ways to skirt
around the law, actually breaking the law, and finding ways to absolve
themselves from the law. This section is a little hard to understand so we will
look at it in the Amplified.
Matt
15:3-9 He replied to them, And why also do you transgress and violate the
commandment of God for the sake of the rules handed down to you by your
forefathers (the elders)? 4 For God commanded, Honor your father and your
mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly
his father or mother, let him surely come to his end by death. [Ex 20:12;
21:17; Lev 20:9; Deut 5:16.] 5 But you say, If anyone tells his father or
mother, What you would have gained from me [that is, the money and whatever I
have that might be used for helping you] is already dedicated as a gift to God,
then he is exempt and no longer under obligation to honor and help his father
or his mother. 6 So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by
your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [depriving it of force
and authority and making it of no effect]. 7 You pretenders (hypocrites)!
Admirably and truly did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said: 8 These people
draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts
hold off and are far away from Me. 9 Uselessly do they worship Me, for they
teach as doctrines the commands of men. [Isa 29:13.] AMP
In
Israel there were no social security checks for the elderly at this time. People were obligated to take care of their
elderly parents, but to get out of that, younger people would say that they
dedicated everything they had to the temple so that they didn’t have to give
money, or food, or property to their parents.
They could continue to use their belongings but could not give them away
to the needy elderly family members. Sneaky.
This is why when asked, Jesus told them the first and great commandment
was to Love God, and the second commandment was to love their neighbor.
Matt
22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?37 Jesus said unto
him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind.38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And
the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40 On
these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.KJV
And
again.
Mark
12:28-34 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together,
and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first
commandment of all?29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments
is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:30 And thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,
and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.31 And the second is
like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none
other commandment greater than these.32 And the scribe said unto him, Well,
Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other
but he:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding,
and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as
himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.34 And when
Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from
the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.KJV
Jesus
stated all the laws of Moses, and all the words of the prophets were summed up
by loving God and others. Love is a
higher way to live, yet to some it is ambiguous. It is easier to follow rules and traditions
for some, and again that is fine if that is what one chooses; but Jesus’
disciples and friends walk in love. This
scribe was close to the Kingdom of God because he understood Jesus’ words.
Mark
7:7-9 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the
tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like
things ye do.9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of
God, that ye may keep your own tradition.KJV
People
worship in vain because of the doctrines and commandments of men. Truly, a
person will fight for their religion, traditions, and religious beliefs, but
rarely will one fight for the words of Jesus.
Before we start thinking that walking in love is too hard a command,
let’s take note that Jesus was commanded of the Father to lay down His life.
John
10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to
lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I
received of my Father.KJV
This
next section is an interesting statement that Jesus makes, and that is that he
does not come to judge the world. He did
not come to judge whether or not people were following the Old Testament laws
or the words he spoke, he came to save the world. If that were our attitude, we would be far
better off.
John
12:44-50 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me,
but on him that sent me.45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.46 I am
come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in
darkness.47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for
I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.48 He that rejecteth me,
and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have
spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.49 For I have not spoken of
myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should
say, and what I should speak.50 And I know that his commandment is life
everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so
I speak.KJV
The
Father told Jesus what to say, and that would bring everlasting life. Paul then continues in this vein of walking
in love by explaining that love fulfills the law.
Rom
13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth
another hath fulfilled the law.9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou
shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou
shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly
comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself.10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law.KJV
Simply
stated, Paul sums up that we owe it to one another to love each other, and then
we fulfill the law. It is far easier to
love others than to remember each law, but again it is ambiguous and can make
people uncomfortable who love rules. Yet
if people have to make up more rules to get out of the rules they have put themselves
under, then the purity of the law is not followed any longer but the traditions
of men usurp the laws.
Think
that through for a moment. Do we take a Sabbath, on what day, and how strict
are we? Do we feed and water our animals? Do we turn on and off lights? Do we
truly uphold the law or do we make adjustments to the law with more rules to
absolve us from breaking the law? Again the ambiguity of walking in love means
we are freed from all that mess and our hearts are near to God and one another.
This is why Jesus healed on the Sabbath, he walked in love.
Eph
2:13-18 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by
the blood of Christ.14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath
broken down the middle wall of partition between us;15 Having abolished in his
flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to
make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;16 And that he might
reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity
thereby:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them
that were nigh.18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the
Father.KJV
Paul
says Jesus abolished the separation, and even the law of commandments contained
in ordinances, giving us access to the Father by the Holy Spirit. As we saw,
the gospel of John gave us the most insight to this new commandment, and John
then further expounds this idea in his epistles.
1
John 2:1-12 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world.3 And hereby we do know that we know him,
if we keep his commandments.4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5 But whoso keepeth his
word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in
him.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he
walked.7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment
which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have
heard from the beginning.8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which
thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true
light now shineth.9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother,
is in darkness even until now.10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the
light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.11 But he that hateth his
brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he
goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.12 I write unto you, little
children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.KJV
Whose
commandments are we to keep? Those that have come from Jesus. You cannot know Jesus if you don’t keep His
commandments. We are to walk like Jesus
walked; in love. Jesus came as a light;
from the beginning of His ministry on earth he brought a new commandment. John goes on to say:
1
John 3:23-24 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of
his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.24 And he
that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we
know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.KJV
And
John further expounds:
1
John 4:18-21 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.19 We
love him, because he first loved us.20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his
brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,
how can he love God whom he hath not seen?21 And this commandment have we from
him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.KJV
In
John’s second epistle, he writes again about this commandment that they
received from the beginning of the church, to love one another.
2
John 3-9 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.4 I rejoiced
greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a
commandment from the Father.5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I
wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning,
that we love one another.6 And this is love, that we walk after his
commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the
beginning, ye should walk in it.7 For many deceivers are entered into the
world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a
deceiver and an antichrist.8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things
which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.9 Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that
abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.KJV
John
then says that many deceivers are saying that Jesus didn’t come in the
flesh. He is basically saying, don’t go
along with their deception, or you may lose your reward. He then says whoever violates and does not
dwell in the doctrines or instruction of Christ is not of God. Let’s read the rest in the Amplified.
2
John 9-11 Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine
of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he
who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he
has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring
this doctrine [is disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught], do not receive him [do
not accept him, do not welcome or admit him] into [your] house or bid him
Godspeed or give him any encouragement. 11 For he who wishes him success [who
encourages him, wishing him Godspeed] is a partaker in his evil doings. AMP
This
is a very strong statement. The
deceivers were saying Jesus did not come in the flesh, but they were also not
living by Jesus’ commandments, therefore do not accept these people or wish
them well, otherwise you will be partaking in their evil deeds. If anyone does not live by Jesus’ instruction
of a new commandment of loving one another, (insert “yes but” here, as in “yes,
walk in love but do these things too”) they are not disciples or friends of
Jesus. Have you ever heard the “yes but” every time someone wants to
lord over you?
There
are a couple of other words for commandment,
and this one that Paul uses in his letter to Timothy is interesting. Paul tells us who the law is for; it’s not
for those who walk in the new commandment of love, it is not for the
righteous. I’ve included the definitions
of the words Paul listed so that this verse will make more sense as to who the
law is for.
NT:3852
paraggelia (par-ang-gel-ee'-ah); from NT:3853; a mandate: KJV - charge,
command.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
1
Tim 1:3-11 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into
Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions,
rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.5 Now the end of the
commandment [3852] is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience,
and of faith unfeigned:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto
vain jangling;7 Desiring to be teachers of the law [3551]; understanding
neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.8 But we know that the law[3551]
is good, if a man use it lawfully;9 Knowing this, that the law [3551]is not
made for a righteous man, but for the lawless [459]and disobedient, for the
ungodly [765]and for sinners[268], for unholy [462] and profane [952], for
murderers of fathers [3964] and murderers of mothers[3389], for manslayers[409],10
For whoremongers[4205], for them that defile themselves with mankind[733], for
menstealers[405], for liars[5583], for perjured persons[1965], and if there be
any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;11 According to the glorious
gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.KJV
NT:3551
nomos (nom'-os); from a primary nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing
to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case
(regulation), specifically (of Moses [including the volume]; also of the Gospel),
or figuratively (a principle):KJV - law.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:459
anomos (an'-om-os); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and NT:3551; lawless,
i.e. (negatively) not subject to (the Jewish) law; (by implication, a Gentile),
or (positively) wicked: KJV - without law, lawless, transgressor, unlawful,
wicked.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:765
asebes (as-eb-ace'); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed
derivative of NT:4576; irreverant, i.e. (by extension) impious or wicked: KJV -
ungodly (man).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:268
hamartolos (ham-ar-to-los'); from NT:264; sinful, i.e. a sinner: KJV - sinful,
sinner.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:462
anosios (an-os'-ee-os); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and NT:3741:KJV -
unholy.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:952
bebelos (beb'-ay-los); from the base of NT:939 and belos (a threshold);
accessible (as by crossing the door-way), i.e. (by implication of Jewish
notions) heathenish, wicked: KJV - profane (person).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
NT:3964
patroloas (pat-rol-o'-as) or patraloas (pat-ral-o'-as); from NT:3962 and the
same as the latter part of NT:3389; a parricide: KJV - murderer of
fathers.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:3389
metroloas (may-trol-o'-as) or metraloas (may-tral-o'-as); from NT:3384 and the
base of NT:257; a mother-thresher, i.e. matricide: KJV - murderer of
mothers.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:409
androphonos (an-drof-on'-os); from NT:435 and NT:5408; a murderer: KJV -
manslayer.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:4205
pornos (por'-nos); from pernemi (to sell; akin to the base of NT:4097); a
(male) prostitute (as venal), i.e. (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine):KJV -
fornicator, whoremonger.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:733
arsenokoites (ar-sen-ok-oy'-tace); from NT:730 and NT:2845; a sodomite :KJV -
abuser of (that defileself) with mankind.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:405
andrapodistes (an-drap-od-is-tace'); from a derivative of a compound of NT:435
and NT:4228; an enslaver (as bringing men to his feet):KJV - menstealer.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:5583
pseustes (psyoos-tace'); from NT:5574; a falsifier: KJV - liar.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:1965
epiorkos (ep-ee'-or-kos); from NT:1909 and NT:3727; on oath, i.e. (falsely) a
forswearer: KJV - perjured person.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
The
first thing Paul tells Timothy is to stay at Ephesus and charge people not to
teach any other doctrines. The commandment is agape, love; out of a pure heart; and the law is for the ones who
are not following the gospel. This is
our charge; I didn’t write the book or give the commandment to love if we are
disciples or friends of Jesus. Some
people wanted to be teachers of the law; that was wrong according to Paul. He says that the law is not for the
righteous, this means that one can be righteous apart from the law. That is a big point here because many think
you need the Old Testament law to become righteous, not so according to Paul.
The law was for the lawless. Once people see the error of lawlessness, they can
then be taught to walk in love, fulfilling the law.
We
are called to a higher calling. We are obligated to love, put off hate, stop
judging others as to the laws of Moses, and then we will be able to call
ourselves disciples and friends of Jesus.
It is interesting to me that Jesus was a friend of sinners rather than of
the Pharisees and Sadducees who kept the Old Testament law. We will have to explore the depths of the
love we are to walk in next week.
