Human Ability to Keep God's Commandments Perfectly
Human Ability to Keep God's Commandments Perfectly
The biblical basis for understanding human ability to keep God's commandments perfectly begins with the assertion that keeping God's commandments is the whole duty of man [1]. This duty is rooted in various biblical passages that emphasize obedience to God's laws and commandments [2, 3]. The Psalmist expresses the importance of keeping God's commandments to maintain a right relationship with God and to avoid forgetting His works [2].
The question of whether humans can keep God's commandments perfectly is addressed differently across various Christian traditions. According to the Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, perfect obedience to all of God's commandments is required for righteousness, and this obedience must be perfect, without any breach in thought, word, or deed [9]. This view is grounded in the understanding that the law of God is perfect and requires perfect obedience [4].
However, the reality of human sinfulness and the limitations of human ability are acknowledged across traditions. The Nonconformist/Puritan perspective, as seen in Matthew Henry's commentary, emphasizes the importance of hoping in God's salvation and doing His commandments, suggesting a recognition of human inability to achieve perfection on their own [7]. The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, represented by Adam Clarke, highlights the perfection of God's law and the necessity of observing it, but also notes the importance of understanding and devoutly observing God's ordinances to avoid false worship [8].
The Protestant academic tradition, as reflected in the Tyndale House commentary on Psalms, interprets keeping God's commandments as guarding them by obeying them, emphasizing the active role of obedience in the life of a believer [6]. The Presbyterian tradition, as represented by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James, suggests that endurance and the perfect work of God's teachings in a person can lead to being perfect or fully developed in Christian character [10].
The Jewish Rationalist tradition, represented by Abraham Ibn Ezra, connects the observance of commandments with the perfection of the heart, indicating that true obedience comes from a heart committed to God [5].
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] Ecclesiastes 12:13 — Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
- Psalms “that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments, -- Psalms 78:7”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Law of God, The — Is absolute and perpetual -- Mt 5:18. Given To Adam. -- Ge 2:16,17; Ro 5:12-14. To Noah. -- Ge 9:6. To the Israelites. -- Ex 20:2-17; Ps 78:5. Through Moses. -- Ex 31:18; Joh 7:19. Through the ministration of angels. -- Ac 7:53; Ga 3:19; Heb 2:2. Described as Pure. -- Ps 19:8. Spiritual. -- Ro 7:14. Holy, just, and good. -- Ro 7:12. Exceeding broad. -- Ps 119:96. Perfect. -- Ps 19:7; Ro 12:2. Truth. -- Ps 119:142. Not grievous. -- 1Jo 5:3. Requires obedience of the heart -- Ps 51:6; Mt 5:28; 22:37. Requires perfect obedience -- De 27:26; Ga 3:10; Ja”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 4:29: WITH ALL THY HEART. I will explain this later. 63 The observance of the commandments is contingent on the perfection of the heart. See I.E. on Deut. 30:10.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 119:4: 119:4 To keep God’s commandments means to guard them by obeying them.”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:166: Here is the whole duty of man; for we are taught, 1. To keep our eye upon God's favour as our end: "Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, not only temporal but eternal salvation. I have hoped for that as my happiness and laid up my treasure in it; I have hoped for it as thine, as a happiness of thy preparing, thy promising, and which consists in being with thee. Hope of this has raised me above the world, and borne me up under all my burdens in it." 2. To keep our eye upon God's word as our rule: I have done thy commandments, that is, I have made conscience of ”
- Leviticus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Leviticus 18:30: Shall ye keep mine ordinance - The only way to be preserved from all false worship is seriously to consider and devoutly to observe the ordinances of the true religion. He who in the things of God goes no farther than he can say, Thus it is written, and thus it behoves me to do, is never likely to receive a false creed, nor perform a superstitious act of worship. 1. How true is that word, The law of the Lord is Perfect! In a small compass, and in a most minute detail, it comprises every thing that is calculated to instruct, direct, convince, correct, and fortify”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 6:25: And it shall be our righteousness,.... Or a mercy, benefit, and blessing to us; or this shall be reckoned our righteousness, and that by which we shall be justified: if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us; in order to have such a justifying righteousness, a man must keep all the commandments of God, not one excepted; and that perfectly, without the least breach of them in thought, word, or deed; and that before the Lord, in his sight, not as it may appear to a man himself, or to others, but as it appears to G”
- James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 1:4: Let endurance have a perfect work (taken out of the previous "worketh patience" or endurance), that is, have its full effect, by showing the most perfect degree of endurance, namely, "joy in bearing the cross" [MENOCHIUS], and enduring to the end (Mat 10:22) [CALVIN]. ye may be perfect--fully developed in all the attributes of a Christian character. For this there is required "joy" [BENGEL], as part of the "perfect work" of probation. The work of God in a man is the man. If God's teachings by patience have had a perfect work in you, you are perfect [AL”