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What does the Bible say about summary of the law?

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The Bible teaches that God’s law is summed up in wholehearted love for God and sincere love for neighbor, revealing both his holy will and our need for grace. Jesus identifies these as the greatest commandments in Matthew 22:37-40 and Mark 12:28-34, drawing on Deuteronomy 6:5. Romans 13:8-10 and Galatians 5:14 teach that love fulfills the law because it seeks no harm and actively pursues another’s good. The Ten Commandments, given in Exodus 34:28, express this enduring moral pattern, while 1 John 3:4 calls sin lawlessness. Yet believers obey not to earn salvation, but gratefully through faith in Christ, whose saving grace renews hearts for loving obedience.

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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Mark 12:28-34

    [28] One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the greatest of all?" [29] Jesus answered, "The greatest is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: [30] you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. [31] The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." [32] The scribe said to him, "Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, [33] and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." [34] When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." No one dared ask him any question after that.

  • Romans 13:8-10

    [8] Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. [9] For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet," and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." [10] Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

  • Matthew 22:37-40

    [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.' [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

  • Deuteronomy 6:5

    and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

  • Galatians 5:14

    For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

  • Exodus 34:28

    He was there with Yahweh forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

  • 1 John 3:4

    Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

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