Fernley Free Methodist Church
Sermon notes.
10-21-18
Locations & Times
Fernley Free Methodist Church
100 S West St, Fernley, NV 89408, USA
Sunday 11:00 AM
Matthew Henry sums up the question of which is the great commandment:
It was a question disputed among the critics in the Law. Some would have the Law of Circumcision to be the Great Commandment, others the Law of the Sabbath, others the Law of Sacrifices, according as they severally stood affected, and spent their zeal; now they would try what Christ said to this question, hoping to incense the people against him, if he should not answer according to the vulgar opinion; and if he should magnify one commandment, they would reflect on him as vilifying the rest.[5]
Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, wrote:
This is the first and great commandment. It is "first and greatest":
1.In its antiquity; being as old as the world, and engraved originally on our very nature.
2.In its dignity; as directly and immediately proceeding from and referring to God.
3.In its excellence; being the commandment of the new covenant, and the very spirit of the Divine adoption.
4.In its justice; because it alone renders to God his due, prefers him before all things, and secures to him his proper rank in relation to them.
5.In its sufficiency; being in itself capable of making men holy in this life, and happy in the other.
6.In its fruitfulness; because it is the root of all commandments, and the fulfilling of the law.
7.In its virtue and efficacy; because by this alone God reigns in the heart of humans, and humans are united to God.
8.In its extent; leaving nothing to the creature, which it does not refer to the Creator.
9.In its necessity; being absolutely indispensable.
10.In its duration; being ever to be continued on earth, and never to be discontinued in heaven
It was a question disputed among the critics in the Law. Some would have the Law of Circumcision to be the Great Commandment, others the Law of the Sabbath, others the Law of Sacrifices, according as they severally stood affected, and spent their zeal; now they would try what Christ said to this question, hoping to incense the people against him, if he should not answer according to the vulgar opinion; and if he should magnify one commandment, they would reflect on him as vilifying the rest.[5]
Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, wrote:
This is the first and great commandment. It is "first and greatest":
1.In its antiquity; being as old as the world, and engraved originally on our very nature.
2.In its dignity; as directly and immediately proceeding from and referring to God.
3.In its excellence; being the commandment of the new covenant, and the very spirit of the Divine adoption.
4.In its justice; because it alone renders to God his due, prefers him before all things, and secures to him his proper rank in relation to them.
5.In its sufficiency; being in itself capable of making men holy in this life, and happy in the other.
6.In its fruitfulness; because it is the root of all commandments, and the fulfilling of the law.
7.In its virtue and efficacy; because by this alone God reigns in the heart of humans, and humans are united to God.
8.In its extent; leaving nothing to the creature, which it does not refer to the Creator.
9.In its necessity; being absolutely indispensable.
10.In its duration; being ever to be continued on earth, and never to be discontinued in heaven