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Easy Reading Edition

Love Does Everything the Law

March 22–28

Commands

SABBATH—MARCH 22
READ FOR THIS WEEK’S LESSON: Exodus 20:1–17;
Romans 6:1–3; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Matthew 23:23, 24;
James 2:1–9.

MEMORY VERSE: “Do not owe people anything. But

you will always owe love to each other. The person who
loves others has obeyed all the law” (Romans 13:8,
ICB).

A LOCAL CHURCH held a special meeting to talk about

what they should do about a member who was making
trouble. One person at the meeting told the pastor, “We
can’t make decisions because of mercy.” We can’t? The
pastor wondered what this person understood about God
and His law. Mercy must be an important part of how we fix
problems with people when they make mistakes. Mercy is
a part of love. Romans 13:8 tells us that when we love the
people around us who need our help, we do everything the
law commands us to do.
If love obeys the law, we should be careful not to think
that the law is separate from love. Love is not separate from
Romans 13:8 tells us that the law in any way. In the Bible, the two agree. God, who
when we love the people gave us His law, is love. So, God’s law is the law of love. As
around us who need our
Ellen G. White puts it, the law shows us who God is. (Read
help, we do everything
the law commands us Christ’s Object Lessons, page 305, adapted.)
to do. God’s law is not a set of important rules that doesn’t
mean anything for our lives. More than anything, God’s law
shows us His love for us.

100 LOVE DOES EVERYTHING THE LAW COMMANDS

 SUNDAY—MARCH 23 Lesson 13
THE LAW OF LOVE (Exodus 20:1–17)

God’s law is more than important rules. God’s law shows us

a relationship. We see this relationship very clearly in the Ten
Commandments. The basic rules of the Ten Commandments
were already part of Adam and Eve’s lives in the Garden of
Eden before the Fall. The rules of God’s law are rules of love.
They show us the relationship that God wanted to have with
people. The rules also show us the relationship God wanted
us to have with other people.
The Lord wrote the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) on
stone (Exodus 31:18). The commandments show Israel their
special relationship with God. God wrote His commandments
down after He saved His people from Egypt. The command-
ments showed God’s love and His promises to His people
(read Exodus 6:7, 8 and Leviticus 26:12). One can see that
the first four commandments and the last six show us what
a healthy relationship with God and other people should be.

Read Exodus 20:1–17. How do these verses show us

two important rules: (1) love for God and (2) love for
people?

The first four commandments show our relationship with

God. The last six show our relationships with other people.
Both our relationship to God and to other people must be
under the control of these two parts of God’s law.
Jesus connected the two parts of God’s law together.
Jesus taught that there are two important commandments:
(1) “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul
[spirit], and all your mind’ ” (Matthew 22:37, ERV; compare
with Deuteronomy 6:5). And (2) “ ‘Love your neighbor the
same as you love yourself’ ” (Matthew 22:39, ERV; compare
with Leviticus 19:18).
The first four commandments are the ways we must love
God with all our heart, mind, spirit, and body. The last six are One can see that the first
the ways we must love other people. We must love them the four commandments and
same as we love ourselves. Jesus says that these two love the last six show us
commandments are an important part of the law (Matthew what a healthy relationship
22:40). So, love is the foundation for the whole law of God. with God and other people
should be.
We often hear people say, “We don’t need to keep the law.
We just need to love God and people.” Why is this idea false?

Can we show love for God or people if we break His

law? Explain your answer.

LOVE DOES EVERYTHING THE LAW COMMANDS 101

 Lesson 13 MONDAY—MARCH 24
THE LAW IS HOLY (Romans 6:1–3)

Love is the beginning of God’s law. When God supports

the law, He supports love. That is why Jesus died to save
sinners. Jesus died so that He could support the law at
the same time that He showed us mercy. In this way,
Jesus could be both fair and show mercy to everyone who
believes in Him (Romans 3:25, 26). When God saves us,
He shows His support for His law. So, the law doesn’t stop
being important when God saves us.

Read Romans 6:1–3 and then Romans 7:7–12. Pay

careful attention to verse 12. What do these verses tell
us about the law, even after Jesus died?

Some people think that mercy and God’s saving plan

make us free from keeping the law. But Paul says that we
must not keep sinning so that God will give us more mercy.
The ones who believe in Jesus have been baptized into His
death. So they must stop sinning and live in Jesus.
The law of God isn’t sin. The law of God shows us our
sin and shows us that we are evil without Jesus. “So the
law is holy. And what the law says is holy and right and
good” (Romans 7:12, WE). The law also shows us our need
for God to save us and for His mercy. God’s saving mercy
comes only from Jesus. So, “does this mean that we do
away with the Law when we put our trust in Christ? No, not
at all. It means we know the Law is important” (Romans
3:31, NLV).
Jesus didn’t come to destroy the law. He came to keep
everything that the Law and the Old Testament promised.
That’s why Jesus says, “ ‘I tell you the truth. Nothing will
disappear from the law until heaven and earth are gone.
The law will not lose even the smallest letter or the smallest
Jesus died so that part of a letter until all has happened’ ” (Matthew 5:18, ICB).
He could support the law God’s law shows us that He is holy. The law also shows
at the same time that
us that God is love, that He is good, and that He is the truth
He showed us mercy.
(Leviticus 19:2; Psalm 19:7, 8; Psalm 119:142, 172). We
must remember that God wrote the Ten Commandments
on pieces of stone Himself (Exodus 31:18). The law writ-
ten in stone shows us that God and His government don’t
change. Love is the foundation or beginning of His govern-
ment. This Bible truth is an important idea in the worldwide
war between God and Satan.

102 LOVE DOES EVERYTHING THE LAW COMMANDS

 TUESDAY—MARCH 25 Lesson 13
LAW AND MERCY (Jeremiah 31:31–34)

As we saw already, God’s law and His mercy work togeth-

er, not against each other. Both rules and forgiveness work
together with God’s love. Both the law and mercy show that
God is fair. During Old Testament times, God’s people saw
that His law showed His mercy. The “gods” of the non-Jews
didn’t show their followers what they wanted from them. But
the God of the Bible teaches His people about the things that
please Him. What pleases God? He wants the best for all of
His people.
We must remember that the law can’t save us from sin. The
law can’t change human hearts. Because we are sinners, we
need God to remove our old evil heart. Then we need Him to
give us a new spiritual heart.

Read Jeremiah 31:31–34. What do these verses teach us

about God’s promises to give us a new heart? Compare
this promise with Jesus’ words to Nicodemus in John
3:1–21 about being born again. Also read Hebrews 8:10.
God also writes His law
God wrote the Ten Commandments on pieces of stone in the hearts of His people
(Psalm 37:30, 31).
(Exodus 31:18). But God also writes His law in the hearts of
His people (Psalm 37:30, 31). God’s law of love is not some-
thing that is outside of us. It is part of our hearts and every
part of who we are. God is the only One who can write His law
on our hearts. He promised His chosen people that He would
write it there for them (read Hebrews 8:10).
We can’t save ourselves with our law-keeping. God saves
us because of faith in His mercy. We don’t save ourselves.
God’s saving mercy is His gift to us (Ephesians 2:8). We
don’t keep the law so that God will save us. We keep the law
because we already are saved. We don’t keep the law so that
God will love us. We keep the law because God already loves
us. God’s love for us helps us to love Him and other people
(read John 14:15).
At the same time, the law shows us our sin (James 1:22–
25; Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7). The law also shows us our
need of a Savior (Galatians 3:22–24). The law leads us in the
best ways of life and shows us God’s love, too.

What is your hope when God judges you? Is it your

law-keeping? Or is it Jesus’ gift of mercy and holy life?
What does your answer tell you about what God’s law
can and can’t do for you?

LOVE DOES EVERYTHING THE LAW COMMANDS 103

 Lesson 13 WEDNESDAY—MARCH 26
LOVE KEEPS THE WHOLE LAW (Matthew 23:23, 24)

The relationship between love and the law is very impor­

tant. The Bible tells us that when we love, we keep the
whole law.
In Romans 13:8–10, Paul teaches us that “the person
who loves others has obeyed all the law” (Romans 13:8,
ICB). After Paul talks about the last six commandments, he
announces, “All these commands and all other commands
are really only one rule: ‘Love your neighbor the same as
you love yourself’ ” (Romans 13:9, ERV). Paul teaches that
“love doesn’t hurt others. So loving is the same as obeying
all the law” (Romans 13:10, ERV). What type of love obeys
all the law? What does this love look the same as?

Read Matthew 23:23, 24. As we already learned in last

week’s lesson, what are “the really important teachings
of the law” that Jesus talks about in verse 23? Read
Deuteronomy 5:12–15 and Isaiah 58:13, 14. How do
these verses show us the connection between the law
and God’s plan to save us?

Jesus says that “the really important teachings of the law”

are being fair, showing mercy, and faith. One law, more than
any other law, shows us that God’s wish to save us also is
connected with His being fair. That law is the Sabbath. The
Sabbath helps us remember the time when God made the
skies and the earth. The Sabbath also helps us remember
After Paul talks about the that God makes His people free from sin and slavery. The
last six commandments, Lord wants us to feel joy for the Sabbath and in Him (Isaiah
he announces, “All these 58:13, 14). Isaiah 58 also talks about doing loving works
commands and all other to help other people. God wants us to feed the hungry
commands are really only and welcome people with no homes into our houses (read
one rule: ‘Love your Isaiah 58:3–10).
neighbor the same as
All these teachings (and many other teachings) help us
you love yourself’ ”
(Romans 13:9, ERV). to understand what keeping the law really means. When we
don’t break the law, we keep it. But we also must do good.
We must do works of love that show God’s faith and mercy.
Keeping the law is about more than not breaking the law.
Keeping the law means doing good works.

104 LOVE DOES EVERYTHING THE LAW COMMANDS

 THURSDAY—MARCH 27 Lesson 13
ABOVE ALL, LOVE PEOPLE (James 2:1–9)

If loving God means we keep His whole law, then we can’t

fully keep God’s law when we only stop doing bad things,
right? The law of love commands us not to do evil. The law of
love also causes us to do acts that show God’s love to other
people. We must show God’s love to other church members
and to people outside the church in our communities. The
people on the earth really need to see God’s love.

Read James 2:1–9. What important message do these

verses give us?

James teaches us that the rich must not hurt the poor or
make life hard for them. Then James talks about the law of
love for our neighbors. He says, “If you obey this law, you
are doing right” (James 2:8, ERV).
As Ellen G. White says, “When we love people, we show
God’s love on this earth. Jesus is the King of glory. He came
to put this love in our hearts. This love makes us children
of one family. Jesus said, ‘Love each other as I have loved
you’ (John 15:12 [ERV]. When we love people the way that
Jesus loved them, His work for us is done. We are ready for
heaven. We have heaven in our hearts.”—Ellen G. White, “When we love people
The Desire of Ages, page 641, adapted. as Jesus loved them,
When we love people as Jesus loved them, we will be we will be ready
for heaven!”
ready for heaven! Wow! This thought is very powerful. It
shows us what it means to really be Jesus’ followers.
Jesus commands His followers to “ ‘love each other just
as I loved you’ ” (John 13:34, ERV). Jesus also says, “ ‘All
people will know that you are my followers if you love each
other’ ” (John 13:35, ERV). Love is so important to our
Christian faith because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). If we
say we love God, we will also love other people (compare
with 1 John 3:11; 1 John 4:20, 21).
1 Peter 4:8 tells Christians, “Most important of all, love each
other deeply, because love makes you willing to forgive many
sins” (ERV; also read Hebrews 10:24 and 1 Thessalonians
3:12).

Think more about the idea that we must love people

the way that Jesus loved them. How does this teaching
help us better understand the idea that God will make
us fit for heaven in this life? Bring your answer to class
on Sabbath.

LOVE DOES EVERYTHING THE LAW COMMANDS 105

 Lesson 13 FRIDAY—MARCH Date
28
ADDITIONAL THOUGHT: Read Ellen G. White, “ ‘The Least
of These My Brethren,’ ” pages 637–641, in The Desire of
Ages.

“When we serve other people and help them, Jesus

helps us. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. People who help
other people will drink the living water and be filled. They
will avoid exciting entertainment. They will not wait for some
change to happen in their lives. The most important topic
that interests them is how to save people who are ready
to die. Then their friendships with other people will cause
wonderful things to happen. The Savior’s love will cause
hearts to join together as one in peace and agreement.
“When we understand that we are workers together
with God, we will say God’s promises with meaning and
interest. God’s promises will burn in our hearts and on our
lips. God asked Moses to serve people who fight against
God and don’t know Him. God gave Moses this promise: ‘I
myself will go with you. And I will give you victory [success].’
Exodus 33:14 [ICB]. The Lord also said, ‘I will be with you.’
Exodus 3:12 [ICB]. God makes these promises to everyone
who serves Jesus and seeks to help His poor, suffering
people.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, page 641,
adapted.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1 Read 1 Corinthians 13:4–8. How does 1 Corinthians 13 help

us understand who we should be as Christians?

2 What separates the sheep from the goats in Matthew 25:31–

46? How can we make sure we don’t misunderstand what Jesus
The Savior’s love will
says in these verses? Why do these verses not teach that our
cause hearts to join
together as one in peace works save us?
and agreement.
3 Read the last part of the quote again from Thursday’s lesson
study: “When we love people the way Jesus loved them, His work
for us is done. We are ready for heaven. We have heaven in our
hearts.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, page 641, adapted.
What does this quote mean to you? What does this quote tell us
about God and about heaven itself? How can we live more as the
citizens of heaven right now? How is sharing and showing God’s
love the answer?

106 LOVE DOES EVERYTHING THE LAW COMMANDS

 Story
KNEELING IN FRONT OF A STATUE INSIDE
A s an opera singer, Maria sings in front of large crowds.
Maria has sung in a dozen countries. One country Maria by Andrew McChesney
visited was North Korea. There, she saw people bow down in
front of a 72-foot tall statue of Kim Sung. Kim Il Sung was the
first leader of North Korea.
Maria is a loyal Seventh-day Adventist. (Her name has been
changed in the story to protect her.)
During the visit to North Korea, Maria and a group of other
singers went to the Mansu Hill Grand Monument, which
shows heroes from the country’s history. At the center of the
monument is the very tall statue of Kim Il Sung. (A second
72-foot statue of Kim’s son, Kim Jong Il, was later added to
the monument.)
A crowd stood around the statue of Kim Il Sung. Maria saw
foreigners from Italy, France, and other countries. She saw
North Koreans. They all bowed in front of the statue. Then Maria
learned that she also was expected to bow to show respect.
A tour guide told Maria, “You must kneel down.”
Maria thought about the first commandment, which
says, “ ‘You must not worship any other gods except me’ ”
(Exodus 20:3, ERV). The second commandment also for-
bids us to bow down to any statues: “ ‘Do not make for your-
self statues of gods that look like [the same as] anything in
the sky. They may not look like anything on the earth or in
the waters either [too]. Do not bow down to them or worship
them’ ” (Exodus 20:4, 5, NIrV). Maria stood straight and
tall. She did not bow down.
As Maria stood there, she remembered the story about
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. These three young
men refused to bow to the 90-foot tall gold statue of King
Nebuchadnezzar, in Daniel 3. Maria thought, “The book of
Daniel really is not a made-up story or a fairy tale! That same
story happens in real life in North Korea and in other places
every day.”
Maria stood straight and tall. She did not bow down.
Some people may think there’s nothing wrong with bowing
down to Kim Il Sung’s statue. But Maria saw the experience
as much more. During that time, Maria believed that God was
asking her to take a public stand for Him.
Several days later, Maria gave a copy of Steps to Christ
to her tour guide. She prays that the tour guide and all North
Koreans learn about Jesus.
This quarter’s 13th Sabbath Offering will be used to share the
Good News about Jesus with people in North Korea and other
countries nearby. Thank you for planning to give a big offering
this Sabbath.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School 107
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at AdventistMission.org.