Sabbath School Lesson for March 22-28, 2025
Introduction of Lesson 13, Love Is the Fulfillment of the Law
Memory Text: “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 NKJV
More than just going through the motions of performing benevolent acts, we should be motivated to show our love to others by the compassion we feel in our hearts. God’s law, which is an expression of His loving character, is the backbone of our love for one another. If our law-keeping is to represent the kind of love God wants us to have, it will have to come from a heart of love.
When we show our love to God and to each other, we are fulfilling the requirements of God’s law of love. This must come from a rejuvenated heart that only God can provide. Love that will transform us can only be acquired through a new birth experience. We are then given a love that passes understanding. We must come humbly to God, asking Him to empower us with His love, forgiveness, and mercy.
The law, far from being a set of requirements, rules, or principles, will then become for us the lifeblood of our daily interactions with God and our fellow human beings.
- Sunday: The Law of Love–Why do we need all ten commandments?
- Monday: The Law Is Holy and Righteous and Good–What did Jesus and the apostles say about the law?
- Tuesday: Law and Grace–What’s the connection between law and grace?
- Wednesday: Love Is the Fulfillment of the Law–How and why does love fulfill the law?
- Thursday: Above All, Love One Another–In what way should we love each other?
Sunday: The Law of Love
By the time Moses led God’s people out of slavery in Egypt, many of them had forgotten how to love God and each other. They had been under harsh rule by their taskmasters, and love was becoming more and more difficult to detect in their daily interactions. With few exceptions, self-survival replaced their focus on relationships of any kind. It was hard enough to take care of themselves, let alone look out for others.
These circumstances led God to be expansive in His explanation of how to love. The first four commandments plainly taught them how to love God in a way that would enhance their relationship with Him. Putting God first, not bowing down to idols, reverencing His name, and not working on His designated day of rest summed up their relationship with God.
The last six requirements involved human relationships. First, honoring our parents, and the remaining five were about treating neighbors fairly, with loving respect. This included not committing murder, adultery, theft, lying, or even being discontent and envious that might lead to those undesirable behaviors.
The Ten Commandments were the only part of the Bible that was written with God’s own finger, indicating their permanent position for all mankind. They obviously weren’t meant only for the Hebrews during the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 31:18).
Verses to discuss:
Exodus 20:1-17
- Why did God begin the law by reminding them that it was He who had delivered them out of bondage?
- What kind of bondage do we need delivered from today?
Matthew 22:37-40 and James 2:10
- Why is having all ten commandments important for our understanding of God’s will?
- Why is breaking one commandment the same as breaking all of them?
- Why has Satan tried to change one of God’s commandments (specifically the fourth one about seventh-day rest and worship)? How has this affected our relationship with God?
Monday: The Law Is Holy and Righteous and Good
Some Christians have distanced themselves from the law and assume that since Jesus died for us, His grace invalidates the law. We no longer need to be under the law, since we are now under grace. But there are several indications in the Bible that show us this is not the case.
Paul found value in the law. He pointed out in Romans 7:7 that he “would not have known sin except through the law.” He also said that faith in God’s grace does not make the law void (Romans 3:31). John agreed with Paul, informing us that “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4 KJV). In other words, when we sin, we are breaking the law. The law helps us know what sin is.
Paul added in Romans 7:12 that the law is holy, just, and good. Writers in the Old Testament agreed with him on that point too, telling us that the law is perfect and pure (Psalm 19:7-9), true and righteous (Psalm 119:142, 172).
Jesus, of course, had nothing but good things to say about the law of God. He affirmed that He did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets (meaning the Scriptures they had at the time). He said firmly that not one jot or tittle (one letter or stroke) would go away from the law till all was fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18). To further clarify this point, Jesus said in John 14:15 that if you love Him, you will keep His commandments. Keeping the commandments is, therefore, the same as loving our Lord. Those who love Him will obey Him, for He is both just (a keeper of the law) and our Justifier (One who enables us keep it) (Romans 3:26).
Verses to discuss:
Romans 7:7-12, 3:25-26, 31
- What do we learn about the law from Paul’s letter to the Romans?
Matthew 5:17-18 and John 14:15
- What did Jesus tell us about the law and why it should be kept?
Tuesday: Law and Grace
Although the Ten Commandment law was written with God’s own finger, it was God’s desire that it also be written on our hearts. When touched by God’s grace, we are given a new heart that alone is capable of keeping His law. Far from being external, God’s character of love becomes part of our inward being when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.
By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, keeping the law becomes a joy to us, rather than a burden. We delight to do His will, when this heart transplant takes place. The transformation we experience is a gift from God. There is nothing we can do by ourselves (Ephesians 2:8) to earn salvation. We don’t keep the law TO BE saved; we keep it because we ARE saved.
The pagan gods were unpredictable, leaving questions about how people could please them. But God is forthcoming with what He expects of us. The law not only shows us what our sins are, it guides us to ways of life that are best for us, and reveals God’s character of love and mercy.
Verses to discuss:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
- Why did God call this a “new” covenant? Wasn’t it what God wanted them to do from the beginning?
- Why is the new covenant better for us than the old way they had been keeping it?
John 3:1-8
- What makes us think this “new birth” Jesus talked about may have actually been the new covenant Jeremiah had described?
- What part does the Holy Spirit play in the new birth?
Wednesday: Love Is the Fulfillment of the Law
Paul, and even Jesus, were clear about the law being the Ten Commandments. For example, Romans 13:8-10, where we find the phrase “love is the fulfillment of the law”, Paul mentioned several commandments in the Decalogue: thou shalt not commit adultery, murder, steal, and so on. Jesus, in speaking to a rich, young ruler, recommended that he not do some of the things Paul listed, concluding that we should love our neighbor as ourselves.
Loving our neighbor is no doubt a top issue for God. Isaiah 58:6-7 describes the fast that delights God as being when we free the oppressed, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. Jesus indeed considered such benevolent actions as among the weightier matters, such as justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23). He even said when we did these things, we were actually doing it to and for Him (Matthew 25:40).
All of this leads us to recognize that the Ten Commandments is far from being a list of “thou shalt nots”. It amounts to doing good–in other words, tangible actions that positively impact others, thus providing a blessing for ourselves and giving glory to God. Love for our neighbors is how we fulfill God’s law in the most practical sense. Much satisfaction and fulfillment are the result of our loving others.
Verses to discuss:
Romans 13:8-10 and Matthew 23:23-24
- Why would loving our neighbor be included in what Jesus called “the weightier matters”?
Matthew 25:40
- Why is God interested in how we treat others? How does it honor or dishonor God?
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
- How does the Sabbath commandment show God’s concern for love and justice?
Thursday: Above All, Love One Another
Sometimes love is as simple as not preferring one group of people over another–in other words, not showing partiality, or an unfair bias, which is also called favoritism. James gave a telling example in relating how we might treat a well-dressed visitor to our church, compared to a poorly-clad one (James 2:1-9). Loving one another means loving everyone, despite their background or appearance. Besides our treatment of people, even our thoughts about them must be guarded.
1 Peter 4:8 admonishes us to “have fervent love for one another”. This fervency means having or displaying love with passionate intensity. Quoting Proverbs, he adds that “love will cover a multitude of sins”. This means we should overlook people’s flaws or mistakes and not dwell on their offenses or shortcomings.
Jesus certainly agrees with such impartial love. And for good reason. He said, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). It remains the identifying mark of true Christians today.
Verses to discuss:
James 2:1-9
- Why does James give us such a personal example of loving one another?
- How do you see favoritism being shown in the church or home where you live, and what can be done about it?
John 13:34-35 and 1 Peter 4:8
- Why was Jesus so concerned about the disciples loving one another?
- Describe the kind of love Peter recommends us to have.
1 John 3:11 and 4:20-21
- How and why is our love for God shown by how we love each other?
Friday: Final Thoughts
Paul summed up love in his letter to the Corinthians, specifically in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The description of love in this passage sums up the kind of love encouraged in the Ten Commandments. Instead of expressing them in a negative way, of things we shouldn’t do, it enhances them by indicating what we should do in order to have true love for one another.
When our love matches the kind Paul wrote about and we minister to others out of compassion, we can be assured that the Good Shepherd will satisfy our needs. Psalm 23 says we “shall not want”. Our bread and water will be sure (Isaiah 33:16). It’s a comfort to know that the Shepherd does not leave us, nor forsake us (Joshua 1:5).
To read more about about Christ’s love and justice through His First and Second Comings, see my article here, https://www.outlookmag.org/christ-shows-us-gods-love-and-justice/
Next Week: Some Principles of Prophecy
To read the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly and see more resources for its study, go to
