2 John 1:6
This is love, that we walk according to His commandments...
“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
2 John 1:6
The apostle tells us what love is. Which commandments is he speaking about? What does this verse mean?
“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”
John is repeating the words of Jesus. Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23; John 15:10). This is important for everyone. By this we know that we know Him: if we keep His commandments (1 John 2:3). God calls everyone to keep His commandments. His commandments are pure, enlightening the eyes (Psalm 19:8). They are not a burden (1 John 5:3).
John 14:15: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
1 John 2:6: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments”
1 John 5:3: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome”
Psalm 19:8: “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;”
“This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
When the apostle spread the Gospel, he taught the people to love one another, just as Christ loved the church (1 John 2:7, 24; 1 John 3:11). The church should walk in this love; they should live out of this love. This love is even more important than faith and hope (1 Corinthians 13:13).
1 John 2:7: “Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.”
1 John 2:24: “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”
1 John 3:11: “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;”
1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
God gave the Ten Commandments. All the Law is captured in just two commandments. Jesus reminded the Jews of the words of Moses, Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” Moses had told the people of Israel that this was the greatest commandment (Deuteronomy 6:5), and Jesus reminded us of this.
Today’s lesson: This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. We have heard His commandments. Do we listen to Him? Do we want to live according to His will? Do we walk in it?
Found this encouraging? Check also our Bible study about Isaiah 53:10a.