The Law of Greatest Love: Dividing the Tables

"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. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
(Matthew 22:37-40) 

Dividing the Tables

Jesus divides the Law into two general sections, both relating to love: we must love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. The 98th question of the Westminster Larger Catechism asks, "Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?" The answer given is "The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon Mount Sinai, and written by him in two tables of stone; and are recorded in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. The four first commandments containing our duty to God, and the other six our duty to man."

If we list the Ten Commandments out according to this division, we see the following:

Loving God

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, etc.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Loving Neighbor

5. Honour thy father and thy mother, etc.
6. Thou shalt not murder.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, etc.

Since the Ten Commandments are a summary of God's moral law, and a perfect reflection of His own character, everything about how to love God and how to love our neighbors is summed up in the them. One consistent thing we will see in the Ten Commandments is that each commandment contains both positive and negative elements. So every duty commanded also carries a contrary sin forbidden; and every sin forbidden also carries a contrary duty commanded.

For example, the seventh commandment not only forbids adultery, but also commands the duty of loving your spouse. The eight commandment not only forbids stealing, but also commands the duty of seeking our neighbor's welfare. We will consider this reality with each of the Ten Commandments as we address them. Ultimately, we will see that each of these commandments is wrapped up in the word "love", and we will see that "love" is properly defined and clarified in each of the commandments.  

+ Blessings in Christ +