The Law of God, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, is not merely a set of external regulations but a divine mandate that demands the obedience of the heart. This principle is woven throughout the biblical narrative, emphasizing that true adherence to God's commandments involves an inward transformation and sincere devotion.

Old Testament Foundations

The concept of heart obedience is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 6:5, the Shema, a central declaration of the Jewish faith, commands, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This verse underscores that love and obedience to God must emanate from the heart, encompassing the entirety of one's being.

The prophet Samuel, in 1 Samuel 16:7, highlights the importance of the heart when God instructs him, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart." This passage reveals that God prioritizes the condition of the heart over external appearances or actions.

In the Psalms, David frequently expresses the necessity of heart obedience. Psalm 51:10 pleads, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Here, David acknowledges that true repentance and obedience require a transformation of the heart, a work that only God can accomplish.

New Testament Fulfillment

The New Testament continues this theme, with Jesus Christ emphasizing heart obedience as central to the Kingdom of God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). This beatitude highlights the necessity of inner purity and sincerity in one's relationship with God.

Jesus further expounds on the law's demands in Matthew 22:37-40, where He summarizes the commandments: "‘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 depend on these two commandments." Here, Jesus affirms that the essence of the law is love, which must originate from the heart.

The Apostle Paul echoes this teaching in Romans 2:29, stating, "But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God." Paul emphasizes that true obedience is a spiritual matter, transcending mere external observance.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is crucial for enabling heart obedience. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, God promises, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances." This prophetic promise finds fulfillment in the New Covenant, where believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in accordance with God's will.

Paul reiterates this in Galatians 5:16, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." The Spirit's work in the believer's heart produces the fruit of obedience, aligning one's desires with God's commands.

Conclusion

The Law of God, requiring obedience of the heart, is a profound biblical truth that calls for an inward transformation, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This obedience is characterized by love, sincerity, and a wholehearted devotion to God, reflecting the true essence of His commandments.Psalm 51:6
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 5:28
But I say to you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 22:37
Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Obedience to the Moral Law.
... 6. Entire obedience does not imply that God is to be at all times the direct object
of attention and affection. ... The law of God requires the supreme love of ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xi obedience to the.htm

The Right Understanding of the Law
... God in the law requires exact obedience, yet will accept of sincere obedience; he
will abate something of the degree, if there be truth in the inward ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/1 4 the right understanding of.htm

On Particular Acts of Obedience, or those which are Prescribed in ...
... The law of God requires the entire obedience of the mouth, heart and work, that
is, inward and outward obedience " for God is the God of the whole man, of ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxxiii on particular acts.htm

Obedience Entire.
... of the obedience which, under the circumstances the law of God requires. While
voluntarily withholding full obedience, their partial obedience is accepted ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture x obedience entire.htm

On Obedience to Parents
... consider, that by the divine appointment their will is law to you ... Have you ever
considered the extent of that obedience to your parents which God requires? ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 96 on obedience to.htm

Obedience to God the Way to Faith in Christ.
... of our religion which this profession requires, and thus ... put aside before the weightier
matters of the Law. ... the mere obvious duty of obedience to God; we are ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xiv obedience to god.htm

Submit Yourselves Therefore to God. James 4:7.
... special provision has been made, by which God offers us ... It is a government of law,
with the gospel appended ... The gospel requires the same obedience with the law ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/submit yourselves therefore to god.htm

The Righteousness of Faith
... or righteousness that is which the law indispensably requires. ... thing to give thanks?"
to have God always before ... desire, and thought, in obedience to his law? ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 6 the righteousness of.htm

Obedience
... That is proper obedience which the word requires; our obedience ... Under the law, God
will have a free-will ... Hypocrites obey God grudgingly, and against their will ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 1 obedience.htm

Man's Inability to Keep the Moral Law
... obedience, and cannot keep the moral law exactly, yet ... The covenant of works requires
perfect, personal, perpetual ... but in the covenant of grace, God will make ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/3 1 mans inability to keep.htm

What is the spirit of the law? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law, but did not abolish it? | GotQuestions.org

What is natural law? | GotQuestions.org

Law: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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