How does John 15:23 relate to the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? Setting the Context • Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” • John 15:23: “Whoever hates Me also hates My Father.” Key Truths Shared by Both Passages • Singular Allegiance: Exodus demands exclusive worship; John reveals that allegiance to the Father is inseparable from allegiance to the Son. • Unity of Godhead: Rejecting Jesus is rejecting the Father, showing that the First Commandment’s “Me” includes the Son (cf. John 10:30). • Heart Posture: “No other gods” forbids divided affections; hatred of Jesus exposes a heart already harboring rival loyalties. Implications for Our Allegiance • Loving Christ = Keeping the First Commandment. To honor Jesus is to honor God fully (John 5:23). • Hating/Rejecting Christ = Idolatry. Turning from Christ installs another “god”—whether self, culture, or false religion—breaking Exodus 20:3. • Exclusive Worship Expanded. The First Commandment’s scope runs straight through Calvary: the Father now requires recognition of the Son as the only way (John 14:6). Cementing the Link with Other Scriptures • 1 John 2:23: “No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.” • Colossians 1:15–19: Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” making Him the rightful object of the First Commandment’s worship. • Hebrews 1:3: The Son is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature,” confirming that honoring Him fulfills the command. Practical Takeaways • Examine loyalties: Anything displacing Jesus displaces God. • Proclaim Christ: Evangelism is inviting others to keep the First Commandment. • Cultivate love for Jesus through Scripture, prayer, and obedience (John 14:15), guarding against modern idols. |
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