(Deuteronomy 6, 7, 8 and 11)

In these chapters, Moses gives the summary of the great commandment of love. Moses proceeded to give the commandment of love which seemed to have summarized all the laws in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. This suggests that there is a strong relationship between the book of Deuteronomy and that of Exodus.

Moses observed that the law of love was the greatest commandment that the people of Israel were expected to follow. He made a call on to the Israelites to make this law the basis of their life. Therefore, love had to be manifested in the daily lives of the people.

Moses told the Israelites that God's love for them was so great that it chose them long before they were born. Therefore, Moses attributed Israel's special status to the love that the lord had for them.

Moses urged the Israelites to love the Lord their God because of the love he had for them. The people had to- show this love by worshiping Him alone thereby promoting monotheism in Israel.

Besides, Moses encouraged the Israelites to demonstrate the love of God for them by loving one another. This was important since they were one chosen people.    

Moses stressed that the commandment of love was in line with the Sinai covenant. Accordingly, he showed that it was during this covenant that God gave His people the Ten Commandments that they were being called upon to observe. "

Moses also encouraged the Israelites to live as God's people and since they expected to worship Him alone, Moses urged the people to realize that love was supposed to be the supreme commandment. Therefore, the Israelites had to reflect this love in their day to day life as the Lord's chosen people.

Moses urged the Israelites to teach their children about the love that God had for them. He constantly reminded the people of their obligations among which included the enlightening of the children about their history. According to Moses, this was one way of showing their love of God by being faithful to His command.

Moses called upon the Israelites to manifest the law of love in their homes. He said this had to be even when they were resting or working. He went ahead to advise them to write this law on their door posts and on their gates.

Moses attributed the promises that God made to Israel's ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to the love the Lord had for them. Accordingly, the lord would give His people large and beautiful cities they did not build. Therefore, the Israelites were beneficiaries to these promises because God loved them.

Moses said that God had demonstrated His love for Israel by setting them free from their slavery in Egypt. In doing so, Moses told the Israelites that God brought their suffering to an end. This justified the reason the lord gave them love as the greatest commandment expected of them.

Moses showed the people of Israel that they would receive blessings from God because he loved them. Accordingly, the Israelites would increase in number and have many children, their fields would produce enough corn, wine and olive oil and besides, the lord would give them many cattle and sheep.

For God's love for them, Moses urged the Israelites to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations as contained in the Sinai covenant. Failure to do so would mean loss of God's love together with His promised blessings.

Moses urged the Israelites to obey the commandment of love. By their obedience to this law of love, they would be prosperous in the land they were about to occupy.

Besides, Moses said that by obeying the law of love, Israel would take possession of the fertile land God had promised them through their ancestor Abraham. He assured the people that the lord would help them drive away their enemies.

Moses told the Israelites that the Lord would keep His love for them for a thousand generations. However, this was based on the condition that Israel would also observe and keep the commandment of love.

Moses stressed that the Lord would not hesitate to punish those hating Him. However, he noted that such a punishment would be an act of God showing His love for them.

Moses urged Israelites to extend their love to the underprivileged and foreigners. Therefore, they were required take care of the poor and orphans for this would demonstrate their love for God.

Moses told the Israelites that their special chosen status was because God loved them. He observed that God did not love and choose them because they outnumbered others but because He had special love for them.

Moses called upon the people of Israel to serve the Lord faithfully. He said that their faithfulness would reflect their love for the Lord.

Moses urged the Israelites to always remember what their God had done for them. He attributed these good deeds to the love God had for them. He had rescued them from slavery, protected them in the wilderness and was now willing to give them the Promised Land because He loved them.

Moses urged the Israelites to live in harmony with each other. This was a way of promoting good relationship among the Israelites since they were God's people.

THEME OF LOVE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The theme of love is wide spread in the books of the New Testament. The writers of the gospels and of the different epistles give a vivid picture that God's love for humanity is the basis and the foundation upon which the coming of Jesus was laid.

According to Saint John, God loved the world so much that He sent His only son to die for the sins of the humans so that they could achieve salvation.

Jesus' death on the cross is therefore an 'act of God showing His love for the sinful human beings. He carried the burdens that should have been borne by human beings.

Jesus told the believers that the greatest commandment was the love of God. He encouraged the believers to love God with all their heart, soul and strength. (Mark 12:30).

Jesus emphasized that the second greatest commandment was the love for one's neighbour as much as one loves the self. He showed that loving one's neighbour is more important than offering animals and other sacrifices to God.

Jesus urged all the believers to extend love to their enemies as well. He advised them to do good to such people instead of hating them.

Jesus said that whoever fulfils the commandment of love would be great in the heavenly kingdom. He emphasized that such a person would be rewarded with salvation in the father's kingdom.

Jesus said that it is more important to extend love to one another than give sacrifices to God on a daily basis. Therefore, he advised his followers to reconcile with each other before presenting their sacrifices to God.

Jesus urged his followers copy his example and love each other the way he loved them to the extent of coming to suffer on their behalf.

Jesus emphasized that God loves a believer because of the love such a believer has for him.

Jesus told his followers that the greatest gift one can give to a friend is the gift of love,

Jesus observed that by loving Him, a believer would be assured of a place in his father's kingdom. In saying this, he identified himself as the way, the truth and the life.

According to Saint Paul, love is unique and has no strings attached. Therefore, he maintains that giving conditions is not a requirement in loving one another.

Saint Paul also observed that it is only where there is love that a person is able to forgive. He showed that love is characterized by virtues such as kindness, humility, patience, and faithfulness among others.

Saint Paul also noted that true love is free from pretence. Therefore, he called upon every believer to let love be a reflection of their inner feelings which should be expressed whole heartedly.

To Saint Paul, love is a divine victory over Satan which defeats its course. For this reason, he advised every believer to reflect love in their daily lives.

Saint Paul emphasized that a believer cannot be separated from the love of Christ. Therefore, he looks at the union between Jesus and the believers as a permanent relationship.

According to Saint Paul love is eternal. It is something that lasts forever and stands all the tests of time.