The fifth through the tenth commanments
The fifth through the tenth commandments can be summarized under the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev. 19:18, Matt. 22:39, Mar. 12:31, Luke 10:27, Rom. 13:9, Gal. 5:14, Jas. 2:8) As can be seen from its many repetitions, this command sums up the second part of the ten commandments. The ten commandments have a two-point focus. First our relationship to God and second our relationship to each other. The greater part of the commandments refers to our relationship with one another. This makes sense since we are created in the image of God and if we are to love, honor, and respect God then we must also do the same for those who bear His image. As John wrote, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he had not seen?” (1 John 4:20)
We were created to be social beings. As it is written, “And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make a helper comparable to him.’” (Gen. 2:18) If we fail to live in love and harmony with one another, we create chaos and discord and this is an abomination to God. This is illustrated in Gen. 6:5-7 where God was grieved by the conduct of mankind because the earth was corrupt and filled with violence. (Gen. 6:11) This chaos brought the judgement of God and the flood. But in the love and grace of God, He preserved a remnant and He has given us instructions on how to live and He has given us His Spirit to assist us and enable us to live in His love and grace. As John wrote, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:10-11)
