Q. 42. What is the essence of the ten commandments?
A. The essence of the ten commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our
soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
"The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Gal. 5:14).
Thoughts: Luther used to say, "Love God and do what you will." When we have a deep love for God everything else falls into place. But loving neighbor also fosters love for God as the two are truly linked. Calvin said there were two tables of the Law- one that focused on loving God and the other focusing on loving your neighbor.
When God gives us another human being to love- especially as a mate-- that person is our closest neighbor. It is anathema to God to hate or kill the one who is so close to us- that He has put into our lives to love. Yet spouse abuse, child abuse is an epidemic plague upon our land. Those closest to us are those we are called to love. On Valentine's Day, we are called not just to love in the erotic sense, but to love in the deeper sense of human kindness, sacrifice, forgiveness, and mercy.
Prayer; Help me to love my neighbor and in so doing, show love for you.
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