Did the Children of Israel Keep Their Covenant with God?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Exodus 19-20; 24; 31-34 in a lesson titled “All That the Lord Hath Spoken We Will Do.” The following information introduced the lesson. 

Although the children of Israel had murmured and wavered in the past, when Moses read the law at the foot of Mount Sinai, they made this covenant: “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7). God then called Moses onto the mountain, telling him to build a tabernacle so “that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8).

But while Moses was at the top of the mountain learning how the Israelites could have God’s presence among them, the Israelites were at the bottom of the mountain making a golden idol to worship instead. Soon after promising to “have no other gods,” they “turned aside quickly” from their promise (Exodus 20:3; 32:8; see also Exodus 24:3). It was a surprising turn, but we know from experience that faith and commitment can sometimes be overcome by impatience, fear, or doubt. As we seek the Lord’s presence in our lives, it is encouraging to know the Lord did not give up on ancient Israel and He will not give up on us and the people we love—for He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).

Some of the principles taught in this scripture block are: (1) The Lord’s covenant people are a treasure to Him (Exodus 19:3-6); (2) Sacred experiences require preparation (Exodus 19:10-11, 17); (3) Obedience to God’s commandments brings blessings (Exodus 20:1-17); (4) Making covenants shows my willingness to obey God’s law (Exodus 24:1-11); (5) Sin is turning away from God; repentance is turning toward Him and away from evil (Exodus 32-34); (6) The Sabbath is a sign (Exodus 31:13-16), and (7) What was the difference between the two sets of stone tables Moses made? (Exodus 34:1-4). All the principles deserve some discussion, but this essay will discuss only principle #3 about obedience to commandments brings blessings.

While the Israelites were gathered at the base of Mount Sinai, they heard the voice of God give the Ten Commandments (see Deuteronomy 4:12-13). We know that these are not God’s only commandments because there are many other commandments in the scriptures. However, this discussion will concentrate only upon the Ten Commandments, which are as follows.

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 ¶ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. (Emphasis added.)

The first observation is about a division among the Ten Commandments. The first four commandments have to do with our relationship with God. The last six commandments have to do with our relationships with other people. The Ten Commandments are an enlargement on the two great commandments taught in Matthew 22:36-40.

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Emphasis added.)

If you choose to learn more about the Ten Commandments and how they can bless your life, I suggest that you study them. You might make a simple table as you ponder the significance of the Ten Commandments in your life.

Commandment	In other words, what does God want me to do	Blessings that come from living this commandment

 You could consider the following questions as you study:

·       How does keeping these ten commandments help you keep the two great commandments that Jesus gave in Matthew 22:34-40?

·       What are things that you may be tempted to put before God? What blessings have you seen from putting God first?

·       How would you respond to someone who says the Ten Commandments were given a long time ago and do not apply today? What examples from your life would you share as part of your response?

·       How has the Lord fulfilled the promise in Exodus 20:6 in your life?

How Can I obtain Eternal Life?

My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Matthew 18 and Luke 10 in a lesson titled “What Shall I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?” This is the counsel given prior to the lesson: “As you prayerfully read and ponder Matthew 18 and Luke 10, pay attention to the quiet promptings of the Holy Ghost. He will tell you how these teachings and stories apply to you. Record the impressions you receive.” I like this counsel because it tells me that there is a specific message for me. The lesson was introduced in the following paragraph. 

When you ask the Lord a question, you might receive an answer you did not expect. Who is my neighbor? Anyone who needs your help and love. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? A child. Is it enough to forgive an offender seven times? No, you should forgive seventy times seven. (See Luke 10:29-37; Matthew 18:4, 21-22.) Unexpected answers from the Lord can invite us to change the way we think, feel, and act. If you are seeking the Lord’s will because you really want to learn from Him, the Lord will teach you how to live in a way that leads to eternal life with Him.

The Parable

As with most scripture blocks, there were numerous principles discussed in this lesson. The principle that I feel prompted to discuss tonight is found in Luke 10:25-37: “To obtain eternal life, I must love God and love my neighbor as myself.” First, I will present the applicable verses.

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Who Is My Neighbor? 

The lawyer must have been surprised by the Savior’s answer to his questions. His first question was “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? The Lord answered by reciting the two great commandments: Thou shalt love God, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. His second question was “who is my neighbour?” We should keep both questions in mind as we study the parable of the Good Samaritan.

It is interesting that the Lord chose to use a Samaritan as the hero in His story, the person who showed compassion and love for a neighbor. Animosity between the Jews and Samaritans began centuries prior to the time of Jesus. The Samaritans were descendants of Jews living in Samaria who had intermarried with Gentiles. The Jews felt that the Samaritans had become corrupted by their association with Gentiles and had apostatized. Jews would travel miles out of their way to avoid passing through Samaria. We are not told the race or ethnicity of the traveler.

The story of the Good Samaritan is a good story that even children can understand: Some bad men hurt a traveler and left him half dead. A priest and a Levite saw the traveler and passed on the other side to avoid touching him. A Samaritan came along and took care of the man.

What Is the Meaning of the Parable?

As I said, the Good Samaritan is a good story, which is known as a parable. Why did Jesus teach with parables? He explained to His disciples that He taught in parables so that people could understand it at any spiritual level that they may be. To a child, the parable is a good story. To a person who is more mature spiritually, the parable has a deeper meaning. I want to share some thoughts and questions that may help you to understand the parable at a deeper level.

First, a little geography. Jerusalem is at 2582 feet in altitude, and Jericho is 800 feet below sea level. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho is about fifteen miles long as well as being a steep, winding descent of 3300 feet. The area is a wilderness that is dry and treeless. It is inhospitable and hot because the sun is relentless in its heat. The road to Jericho represents the descent of Adam and Eve and their posterity into the mortal world.

The traveler represents each of us. Sometimes, we are beaten, robbed, and left half dead by the people around us. We may be physically okay but suffering spiritually, emotionally, or mentally. Sometimes, we are like thieves – saying and doing things that hurt other people. Sometimes, we are like the donkey with heavy burdens placed on our back and an expectation that we will carry them. Sometimes, we are like the priest and the Levite – we see people who are hurting, but we do not stop to help. Sometimes, we are like the inn keeper and are asked to help someone who is hurting or needs help.

After telling the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?” The lawyer answered, “He that shewed mercy on him.” Jesus then said, “Go, and do thou likewise.”

The parable and the counsel of the Savior have come down to our day to teach us about mercy. The Samaritan represented Jesus Christ, and His words “Go, and do thou likewise” tell us that He wants us to become like Him. He wants us to love God and our neighbor as ourselves – just as He does. By becoming like the Savior, we can inherit eternal life, the greatest gift of God.

 

Two Great Commandments

            The scriptures tell of attempts by numerous people to cause Jesus Christ to trip over His words. One such person was a “certain lawyer” who asked the Savior, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life.” Jesus answered with two questions: “What is written in the law? How readest thou?” The lawyer obviously knew what the scriptures said.

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

And he [Jesus] said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. (See John 10:25-29.)

            This was not the end of the conversation, but it is good for us to discuss the principles referred to in the above verses. The first principle is that we must love God and love our neighbors in order to obtain eternal life. How are we to love God? Jesus said that we are to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind. This means that we are to love God with our whole self. President Ezra Taft Benson taught the following about this commandment. 

To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no lukewarm endeavor. It is total commitment of our very being – physical, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually – to a love of the Lord.

The breadth, depth, and height of this love of God extend into every facet of one’s life. Our desires, be they spiritual or temporal, should be rooted in a love of the Lord. Our thoughts and affections should be centered on the Lord. “Let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord,” said Alma, “yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever” (Alma 37:36).

Why did God put the first commandment first? Because He knew that if we truly loved Him we would want to keep all of His other commandments. “For this is the love of God,” says John, “that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3; see also 2 John 1:6). We must put God in the forefront of everything else in our lives. He must come first, just as He declares in the first of His Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).

When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.

We should put God ahead of everyone else in our lives.

            President Benson explains that we must love God with our whole being and that our love for Him cannot be lukewarm. We show our love for God by keeping His commandments and doing His will. In other words, our love for God guides our words and actions. Now let us go back to Luke’s account.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise (Luke 10:29-37).

            These verses clearly teach the principle that we are commanded to love and serve those in need, regardless of their race, religion, tribe, or social class. The priest and the Levite had the priesthood duty to care for the wounded man, but they shirked their responsibilities. The Samaritan was actually doing what the priest and the Levite should have done. President Thomas S. Monson went about doing good in service to mankind. He taught the following about loving our neighbors. 

Each of us, in the journey through mortality, will travel his own Jericho Road. What will be our experience? What will be mine? Will I fail to notice him who has fallen among thieves and requires my help? Will you? Will I be one who sees the injured and hears his plea, yet crosses to the other side? Will you? Or will I be one who sees, who hers, who pauses, and who helps? Will you?

Jesus provided our watchword: “Go, and do thou likewise.” When we obey that declaration, there opens to our view a vista of joy seldom equaled and never surpassed.

Now the Jericho Road may not be clearly marked. Neither may the injured cry out, that we may hear. But when we walk in the steps of that good Samaritan, we walk the pathway that leads to perfection.

            President Monson demonstrated by his actions throughout his lifetime that he would have been one who crossed the road to help someone in need. He set an excellent example of one who walks the path to perfection. President Howard W. Hunter added the following reminder: 

I suggest to you that the Lord has prepared a touchstone for you and me, an outward measurement of inward discipleship that marks our faithfulness and will survive the fires yet to come….

The answer of Jesus to the lawyer might be considered as the Lord’s touchstone. He said on another occasion, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40). He will measure our devotion to him by how we love and serve our fellowmen. What kind of mark are we leaving on the Lord’s touchstone? Are we truly good neighbors? Does the test show us to be 24-karat gold, or can the trace of fool’s gold be detected? …

The Samaritan gave us an example of pure Christian love. He had compassion; he went to the man who had been injured by the thieves and bound up his wounds. He took him to an inn, cared for him, paid his expenses, and offered more if needed for his care. This is a story of the love of a neighbor for his neighbor.

… We need to remember that though we make our friends, God has made our neighbors – everywhere. Love should have no boundary; we should have no narrow loyalties.

            We should be grateful for the smug lawyer who asked Jesus Christ how to inherit eternal life. His question brought forth great teachings about the two great commandments. All of God’s commandments fall under these two commandments.