The Whole Duty of Man: Fearing God and Keeping His Commandments

It is a joy to share this vital truth with you. The whole duty of mankind is to fear God and keep His commandments, as this is the definitive conclusion of all human obligation and the standard by which every work will be judged Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14. 📖

In this Bible study, we will explore the depth of this duty through the lens of Scripture.

The Summary of All Duty

The Word of God does not leave us in any uncertainty regarding our purpose. True wisdom begins with a proper reverence for our Creator, which leads to a life of obedience.

• The Final Conclusion: After searching through all earthly vanities, the inspired Word declares: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" Ecclesiastes 12:13.

• The Reason for This Duty: The necessity of this obedience is solemnized by the reality of accountability: "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" Ecclesiastes 12:14.

• A Standard of Perfection: This law is not a mere set of rules, but a reflection of God's own nature. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul" Psalm 19:7. Because it is perfect, it covers every thought and secret intent Matthew 12:36, 37.

The Two Great Principles of Love

While the duty is expressed in ten precepts, Jesus Christ revealed that these are founded upon two great pillars of love.

• Love for God: The first four commandments define our duty to God. We are commanded, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" Mark 12:30+1.

• Love for Neighbor: The last six commandments define our duty to our fellow man: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" Mark 12:31. 🤝

• The Complete Scale: These two principles comprise the "whole law" Matthew 22:40. To keep the commandments is the only way to truly manifest the love of God, for "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" 1 John 5:3.

Duty in the Face of the Judgment

Scripture links our duty to keep the commandments directly to the judgment. This is a recurring theme from the Old Testament to the final warning in Revelation.

• The Standard of Judgment: We are admonished to "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty" James 2:12.

• The Measuring Reed: In holy vision, the apostle was given a "reed like unto a rod" to measure the temple and the worshipers Revelation 11:1. This measurement represents the ten commandments, the unvarying standard of character. 📏

• The Present Truth: The last message to the world calls us to "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come" Revelation 14:7. This is coupled with the identification of God's remnant: "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" Revelation 14:12.

The Sabbath as a Special Sign of Duty

Within the "whole duty of man" is the specific call to honor God as Creator through the fourth commandment.

• A Memorial of Creation: The Sabbath was made for all mankind Exodus 16:29. It is a sign of our loyalty to the one who "made heaven, and earth, and the sea" Revelation 14:7.

• A Test of Loyalty: In the final conflict, the Sabbath becomes a special point of controversy. While the world may trample upon God's rest day, His people find it a delight Isaiah 58:13 and recognize that keeping it is inseparable from their whole duty Leviticus 19:30.

The Power to Perform Our Duty

While the law points out our duty, it cannot give us the power to do it. This is where the Gospel meets our necessity.

• Weakness of the Flesh: "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son... condemned sin in the flesh" Romans 8:3.

• The Goal of Grace: Christ came so "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" Romans 8:4.

• Christ Our Example: Our duty is to follow the Pattern. Christ said, "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" Psalm 40:8. By His indwelling Spirit, we are enabled to do that which is our duty to do Luke 17:10.

The promise for those who embrace this whole duty is beautiful: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" Revelation 22:14. 🌟