Hebrews 12:6 (ESV) For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.

Yesterday I left you with the thought that the demands of all is removed from the greatest commandment. Here in this opening verse I would point out again the need for relationship. Jesus disciplines and chastises those He has received unto Himself. That is key to the understanding of how all does not fit into the commandment any longer.

Our understanding of the atoning work of the Cross of Christ is in the forgiveness of sin. Sin regardless of forgiveness has consequences. Those consequences are not unto death and now that we belong to the Lord His judgment is the only one that matters.

Jesus took upon Himself the sins of all mankind for all time at the Cross. It is the only way that He could become the Lord of both the living and the dead.

Romans 14:9 (ESV) For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

When He took on our sin He also took on the reasons behind those sins. For those who are not His, their sins lay upon them. For those that belong to Jesus Christ His humanity understands why we got caught up in those sins. A just God takes into consideration all the evidence. Discipline and chastisement are based on all the evidence not just the sin. The Cross of Christ allows Him to temper judgment with mercy and grace but as surely as we sin, consequences will follow.

We are encouraged at every turn to avoid sin. We should not look at His atoning work as a get out of jail free card. It is not. Disciple and chastisement will come because He loves us. Then He says once again, “Go and sin no more.” The encouragement comes because we need it.

Luke 7:47 (ESV) Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Another way of looking at this is to love the Lord a little more after each forgiveness of sin. We may never get to the point where our humanity can love with all, but we can all love a little more.

Exodus 20:1-3 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Ten Commandments

¹ And God spoke all these words, saying,

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

³ “You shall have no other gods before me.

We were given the Ten Commandments. If they were enough to live by then why are there 613 laws in the Torah? It would seem that our understanding of sin is more complicated than we would like to think. Why do we end up with so many laws? Why not simplify the problem into one concise comment that covers everything?

God did that in verse 3 above. Do not put anything before our relationship. Jesus summed it up perfectly when about the greatest commandment.

Mark 12:30 (ESV) And 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.

Jesus expanded on the first commandment of the ten to include how to obey that command. Our problem isn’t love, heart, mind, soul or strength. Our problem is with all. There is no room for anything personal or private in this commandment. Any part of your love, heart, mind, soul or strength that is withheld from God is failing to obey the commandment and is therefore sin. That is a tough definition and many will reject it.

Here is a little unspoken truth that might help. Laws are written for the lawless. They are written to act like a mirror so that we can see what we are without Jesus Christ in our lives. The lawless need Jesus.

Mark 2:17 (ESV) And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Remember that Jesus said this before the Cross so it was applied without the atoning work that happened at the Cross of Christ. We are all unrighteous before the Cross. What we acquired after the Cross by faith makes all the difference in the commandment. It removes the demand for all.