How does John 14:24 connect with the commandment to love God in Deuteronomy? Setting the Scriptures Side by Side John 14:24: “Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word you hear is not My own; it is from the Father who sent Me.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Hearing the Same Voice • In John 14:24, Jesus insists that His words come straight “from the Father who sent Me.” • Deuteronomy’s command is delivered by Moses, yet it is equally the voice of God. • Both passages underline a single divine source, showing that Old and New Testaments speak with unified authority. Love and Obedience—Two Sides of One Coin • Deuteronomy paints love for God as total devotion—heart, soul, strength. • Jesus interprets that love as practical obedience: “keep My words.” • The implication: genuine love cannot be abstract feeling; it must overflow into concrete actions that align with God’s revealed will (see also 1 John 5:3). The Shema Echo in John’s Gospel • The opening “Hear, O Israel” (שְׁמַע—Shema) calls God’s people to listen, then obey. • Jesus mirrors that call: not hearing alone, but “keeping” His words proves love. • By tying obedience to love, Jesus upholds and clarifies the Shema for His disciples. Continuity, Not Contrast • Deuteronomy 11:1 links love and obedience the same way: “You shall love the LORD your God and always keep His charge.” • Jesus therefore isn’t issuing a new standard but reinforcing the ancient one, now centered on Himself as the incarnate Word (John 1:14). Practical Takeaways for Today • Examine our expression of love—does it translate into active submission to Christ’s teachings? • Treat Scripture as the Father’s direct word, whether from Moses or from Jesus; obedience to either is obedience to God. • Let affection for God drive tangible choices: speech, priorities, relationships, stewardship (James 1:22-25). |
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