Which Old Testament commandments align with Jesus' message in Matthew 19:17? Setting the Scene Matthew 19:17: “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” In the next two verses Jesus immediately reaches back to familiar Old Testament territory and lists specific commands, rooting His invitation to “enter life” in the very law God had already given. Old Testament Commands Jesus Explicitly Recites When the rich young ruler asks “Which ones?” Jesus responds (Matthew 19:18-19): • “Do not murder” — Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17 • “Do not commit adultery” — Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18 • “Do not steal” — Exodus 20:15; Deuteronomy 5:19 • “Do not bear false witness” — Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20 • “Honor your father and mother” — Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16 • “Love your neighbor as yourself” — Leviticus 19:18 All but the last quotation come straight from the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments). The final charge, “love your neighbor as yourself,” is the foundational ethical summary found in the heart of the holiness code. Broader Alignment with the Ten Commandments Although Jesus names only the commandments that govern person-to-person relationships, the Decalogue presents a seamless moral fabric. The first four focus on loving God; the last six on loving neighbor. Jesus’ selection of neighbor-oriented commands implies the whole law because: • Exodus 20:2-11; Deuteronomy 5:6-15 (commands 1-4) express exclusive worship and reverence for God—essential to “entering life.” • Matthew 22:37-40 links Deuteronomy 6:5 (“love the LORD your God”) and Leviticus 19:18 (“love your neighbor”) as the twin pillars on which “all the Law and the Prophets hang.” Thus, keeping the commandments in Jesus’ view encompasses the entire moral law: wholehearted devotion to God, displayed in tangible love toward others. How These Commands Reveal God’s Heart • Value of human life — God protects His image-bearers (“Do not murder”). • Sanctity of marriage — Faithfulness mirrors His covenant love (“Do not commit adultery”). • Respect for property — He provides and assigns stewardship (“Do not steal”). • Truthfulness — God Himself cannot lie (“Do not bear false witness”). • Family structure — Honoring parents nurtures generational faithfulness (“Honor your father and mother”). • Active benevolence — Loving neighbor fulfills the intent behind every prohibition (“Love your neighbor as yourself,” cf. Romans 13:9-10). Living Them Out Today • Guard life: oppose violence and cherish each person from conception onward. • Preserve purity: celebrate marriage and flee all forms of sexual immorality. • Practice integrity: work honestly; give rather than take. • Speak truth: let your “Yes” be yes, maintaining credibility in every arena. • Honor parents: care for them and speak well of them, modeling respect. • Serve neighbors: proactively seek their good, reflecting Christ’s self-giving love. Summary Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:17 draw a straight line to the Old Testament’s moral core. By citing the Decalogue’s relational commands and summing them with Leviticus 19:18, He affirms that the path to “life” is found in wholehearted obedience to the timeless commands God has spoken. |
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