Matthew 22:34–40: If loving God and neighbor is the greatest commandment, why does the Old Testament contain many laws that appear unloving or harsh? “When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together. And one of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: ‘Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?’ Jesus declared, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 1. Understanding the Greatest Commandment Jesus’ response highlights that the entire biblical revelation is grounded in love. “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40). This statement clarifies that, although Scripture contains many individual laws, they are ultimately rooted in the dual principle of loving God and loving neighbor. 2. The Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, God formed a unique covenant relationship with the nation of Israel (Exodus 19:5–6). The laws included ceremonial, moral, and civil guidelines designed for a specific historical context. Because Israel was to live as a distinct, holy nation among surrounding peoples, standards of justice and holiness were stringent, preserving the covenant community from idolatry and moral corruption (Deuteronomy 7:1–6). Some laws may appear harsh by today’s standards, but within their original context, they served several loving purposes: • To protect vulnerable members of society (Exodus 22:21–22). • To ensure national purity so that Israel could fulfill its calling to reveal God’s holiness (Leviticus 11:44–45). • To provide an orderly and just foundation in an ancient Near Eastern environment often marked by brutality. 3. Holiness and Love in the Law Biblical holiness involves separation from sin and devotion to God’s righteous standard (Leviticus 20:26). Many regulations address spiritual health, moral purity, and neighborly protection. For instance: • Laws shielding widows, orphans, and foreigners (Exodus 22:21–24) reflect God’s compassionate heart. • The requirement to leave gleanings in the fields for the poor (Leviticus 19:9–10) shows Israel’s duty of care. While certain judgments or punishments seem severe, they must be viewed as part of a theocratic system meant to uphold divine justice and protect community welfare. The underlying principle remained love for both God and neighbor—seen in the command: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). 4. Progressive Revelation and the Fulfillment in Christ The Old Covenant law foreshadowed a deeper revelation fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 5:17). The moral aspects of the Old Testament remain relevant, pointing humanity toward God’s righteous character. Christ’s atoning sacrifice and resurrection open the path of grace, transforming hearts to live out the essence of the law—love—rather than rigidly adhering to ceremonial or civil aspects bound to ancient Israel’s covenant context (Romans 10:4). 5. Apparent Harshness and the Cultural Setting Many of the seemingly severe Old Testament penalties are tied to the cultural realities of the ancient Near East. Archaeological research and ancient legal codes—like the Code of Hammurabi—reveal that Israel’s laws were often more measured and protective than surrounding pagan societies. For example, Israelite law forbade child sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31), which neighboring nations practiced. In light of that ancient context: • God’s instituting limits on vengeance (Exodus 21:24) placed restraints on human brutality, an early demonstration of justice that preserved life. • Ritual tasks and dietary laws, though strange to today’s culture, had protective and symbolic roles, signifying cleanliness and separation from idolatrous practices. 6. Love Underlying the Covenant From the earliest commands, love was central. Deuteronomy 6:5 proclaims, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” The entire Torah or Law rests on this banner. Even the prophets reminded the people to practice justice, mercy, and humility, directly connecting these virtues with true worship and love (Micah 6:8). Although some commandments dealt with legal precision, the emotional and relational core was love. God consistently emphasized mercy towards the poor, the foreigner, and the marginalized (Deuteronomy 10:18–19). Actions we might initially perceive as harsh must be seen in light of the divine objective: preserving and guiding a people who were to reflect God’s righteous and loving character to the world. 7. Jesus’ Teaching and the Unfolding of Mercy In the New Testament, Jesus clarifies that the “weightier matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness” were always God’s priorities (Matthew 23:23). Applications of the Old Testament laws that neglected mercy were distortions of the law’s intent. • Jesus showed compassion to sinners and healed the sick, demonstrating the heart of God’s law (Matthew 9:35–36). • By His substitutionary death, He fully satisfied God’s justice, releasing believers to live out the true spirit of the law, which is love (Galatians 5:14). 8. Examples of Harmonization and Historicity Ancient manuscript evidence such as the Dead Sea Scrolls (discovered in 1947) confirms the accurate transmission of Old Testament texts, revealing continuity and reliability over centuries. These manuscripts show that the laws and the love ethic in Scripture have been preserved faithfully. Archaeological findings—like excavations in Israel revealing settlement patterns consistent with biblical commands—underscore that these laws functioned within a people group dedicated to the worship of one God. 9. Consistency with the Greatest Commandments All Old Testament laws, whether ceremonial, civil, or moral, find coherence in loving God wholeheartedly and loving one’s neighbor. Jesus’ statement that these two commands undergird all Scripture indicates that the Old Testament’s outward precepts were rooted in the same principle expounded in the Gospels. While cultural and ceremonial forms no longer apply in the New Covenant, they historically pointed forward to Christ, the complete expression of divine love and holiness. 10. Conclusion The greatest commandments to love God and neighbor serve as the essential backbone of all biblical directives. What may appear harsh in the Old Testament requires an understanding of the theocratic context, the urgent need for spiritual purity among a covenant people, and the protective function of the law in a fallen ancient world. Ultimately, from the earliest pages of Scripture to the teachings of Jesus, genuine love has always been the driving force. All the Law and the Prophets indeed hang on these two commandments. Such laws are neither inconsistent nor unloving but reveal a holy God’s provision for preserving the covenant community and paving the way toward compassionate righteousness, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. |
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