the highest standard

The 10 commandments first show up in Exodus 20.  As a child, I learned from one of. my teachers at church that the first 5 refer to our relationship with God.  The second 5 refer to our relationships with others.  I recently heard a minister say that if you can take care of the first 5, the last 5 are easy to follow. The 10 commandments are certainly a high moral. standard.  Jesus raised it to another level.  The Pharisees had asked him what the greatest commandment was.  Jesus quoted from the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:1-9, then added "And love your neighbor as yourself".  This phrase is in the Bible 9 times and in all but one it's referring to the teaching of Jesus.  He knew that with our burden of sin taken care of at the cross, we could focus on celebrating our freedom in service to others.  This high ideal was His. command.  We have a great privilege to follow it in ministry to the world. Praise God!