Title: “The Most Quoted Verse”
Text: Lev. 19.17-18 & misc. NT by Phil Martin for God’s glory
Noticing that OT verses are used in the New Testament can help us as we read through the OT.
1. What OT books are most quoted or alluded to in the NT?
According to the BlueLetterBible:
2. Exodus 20 (Deuteronomy 5) is the most commonly referred to chapter.
3. What verses are most often referred to?
3. Psalm 118.22, Isaiah 6.9 & Exodus 20,12 —–—— 6 times
2. Psalm 110.1 ———— 8 times Check this
1. Leviticus 19.17-18 — 8 times & 2 for verse 17 17:Matt 18.15; Luke 17.3
4. Right here in Leviticus 19 is verse the most quoted and alluded to in the N.T. Turn to Leviticus 19 and look through the chapter to see if you can figure out which verse it is.
5. PURPOSE STATEMENT: Tonight we will ...
· look at the context of these verses
· look at the meaning of these verses
· review the NT allusions to these verses
· and hopefully make some applications along the way.
· Explain the “story books” and “supplemental information” books
· Leviticus fits in with the Exodus part of the story of the OT
· Egypt, Red Sea, manna, water from the rock, Mount Sinai, 10 commands, Moses up the mountain, golden calf, second session on the Mountain (tabernacle & offerings instructions), dedication of the tabernacle, then God gives Moses Leviticus.
· 1-8 Get right with God — sacrifices
· 9-10 Stories about the priests
· 11-26 Stay right with God — rules for the nation’s separated, holy living
· Chapter 19 is about social regulations
A. I AM the Lord and the immediate context
Notice the pattern of concluding each section with “I am the Lord.” The expression “I am the Lord” has an interesting history.
Ex 5.2 Pharaoh tell Moses and Aaron, “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?”
Ex. 6.7 God tells Moses how He will bring judgments and rescue Israel, Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”
Ex 7.5 “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt.”
Ex 7.17 (plague of blood) by this you will know that I am the Lord
Ex 8.22 Moses tell pharaoh that God will not send the flies on Goshen, “in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land.”
Ex. 9.14 (hail) I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know the there is none like Me in all the earth.
9.20 He who feared the Word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servant and his livestock flee to the houses.
The expression “I am the Lord” was meant to say “I mean business. Don’t ignore me.”
The OT verse most referred to in the NT is in the section that include verses 17 & 18.
B. Explanation of verses 17 & 18
17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. cross references / Matt 18.15; Luke 17.3
Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Luke 17:3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.”
· 2272 śānē˒) hate, to be hateful. The verb śānē and its derivatives have the root meaning “to hate.” It expresses an emotional attitude toward persons and things which are opposed, detested, despised and with which one wishes to have no contact or relationship. It is therefore the opposite of love. Whereas love draws and unites, hate separates and keeps distant. Harris, R. L., Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1999, c1980). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (879). Chicago: Moody Press
· Hate is part of the old life. (Titus 3.2-3)
· “rebuke your neighbor” —- Resolve conflicts. Don’t let things fester.
· “not bear sin because of him.” —-
“I will allow no man to drag me down so low as to make me hate him. No race can hate another without itself being narrowed and hated. Character, not circumstances, makes the man.” ———-Booker T. Washington
Hate injures as much or more than the person we hate.
18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
a) Deut. 32.35 “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.' 36 "For the Lord will judge His people And have compassion on His servants,”
b) bear any grudge (naw-tar) : to keep, keep guard, reserve, maintain
· The picture is of a farmer who watches or guards his vineyard.
· It is also used in the sense of nurturing, keeping or cherishing one’s anger or wrath.
· “A grudge is the only thing that doesn’t get better when it is nursed.”
C. New Testament allusions and quotes
Read Luke 10:25-29 (27)
Question: What must I do to inherit eternal life?
· This is the most pressing question for all of us.
· Am I good enough to go to heaven? Look at the law.
· Wanting to JUSTIFY himself. We all want a loophole. OP-XP alone.
· WHO is my neighbor?
Verse 36 – 37
Notice how Jesus turns the focus to being a neighbor
“To whom can I be a neighbor?”
Who do I love and hate?
Who does God, the Father, love?
Sun and Rain
Common compassion on all.
Love vs. Self Interest
“If I am resentful that someone does not respond to my kindness, it reveals who I was doing it for.”
Children look like their Father.
Galatians 5:13-15 (14)
Theme: “Freedom from the law but not misusing your Liberty”
For the believer this command sets our hearts motivation. LOVE
What action does love produce? SERVING
What is the opposite? BITE AND DEVOUR
Love and service are the way of the Spirit.
What does living faith produce?
Favoritism in serving the rich.
Paid attention to the rich.
Shamed the poor.
1. Royal Law
Given by the King
Rules all the others.
2. Partiality is SIN.
3. Any SIN makes you guilty of all since they all spring from the “Royal Law”.
Matthew 22:34-40 (39)
Lawyer (Pharisee) He heard Jesus and was impressed (Read Passage)
They identified 631 commands.
The experts debated which were “heavy” and “light”.
ALL Law and Prophets. If you can’t remember 10, remember 2!
Jesus saw this command as having primary importance.
Psalm 110.1 Used to show who Christ is.
Parallel passage to
1. “More than burnt offerings and sacrifices” – attend, pray, give, bible study witness, community service. Good important but not enough.
2. Not Far off from the kingdom means—
You are seeking the truth.
You see this about more than doing church.
You are honest with yourself and with God.