What is the hardest command in the Bible to keep?
If I were to ask that question and if you the readers were honest with me, I would get a variety of answers. There are numerous commands and many of which have been broken throughout one’s life.
Some might answer that the hardest is honor our parents. We all know that as teenagers many of us racked up countless sins. The truth is even as adults with aged parents we often have difficulty in knowing the right balance with our parents.
One might answer the hardest command is not to tell a lie. Yes, we all, that is everyone at some time or another have told at least one small lie. The problem with lying is once you tell one the next one is easier, which leads to a habit of habitual lying.
Another one might be not ever to steal or take something that doesn’t belong to you. Most everyone has taken some thing. Remember when your mother would make homemade cookies and she said “Don’t take any of these cookies now they are for grandma!” And inevitably you had to get one, which often lead to the aforementioned sin of lying. “Did you get one of those cookies?” “No momma I did not take a cookie.” I guess technically I was not lying because I wouldn’t take just a cookie, I always had to have two cookies.
Maybe the hardest for you may be the one about coveting. That is the desire to have what my friend or neighbor has. We know that can be anything from his wife to dog.
Having said that makes me think about some people, if they are honest you know, they might admit to the one about adultery. No doubt we hear about this happening all the time. Well maybe I best move on before I make someone upset.
Many might say that the hardest is the one that says “be angry and sin not” and “don’t let the sun go down on your anger.” The truth is many people have a problem with anger.
Well, we could go on and on but I believe the hardest is the one that says to “love our neighbor as yourself.”
In the Sermon on the Mount found in chapter five of the book of Matthew, Jesus begins by correcting false teachings of that day. There are six he corrects. They are murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge, and love.
In verses 43 and 44 He speaks about loving our neighbor, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use your and persecute you.”
What! You mean I have to love my enemies. Yep! That’s what it says. Not only does Jesus say it, but in saying it He tells us how to love our enemies. Notice three things in that verse.
One, you love them in what you say…“bless them that curse you…” Two, you love them in what you do…“do good to them that hate you…” Three, love them in how you pray…“pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
All I can say is “Help me Lord!!”
