Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "requirements" often refer to the expectations or commandments set forth by God for His people. These requirements are not merely legalistic rules but are intended to guide believers in living a life that is pleasing to God and reflective of His character. The concept of divine requirements is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the importance of obedience, faith, and moral integrity.
Old TestamentThe Old Testament outlines various requirements that God set for the Israelites, His chosen people. These are primarily found in the Mosaic Law, which includes moral, ceremonial, and civil laws. One of the most succinct expressions of God's requirements is found in
Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" . This verse encapsulates the essence of God's expectations, focusing on justice, mercy, and humility.
The Ten Commandments (
Exodus 20:1-17) serve as a foundational summary of God's moral requirements. These commandments address the relationship between God and humanity, as well as interpersonal relationships. They emphasize the importance of worshiping God alone, honoring parents, and refraining from murder, adultery, theft, false testimony, and covetousness.
In
Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Moses reiterates God's requirements to the Israelites: "And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?" . Here, the emphasis is on a wholehearted devotion to God, expressed through obedience and love.
New TestamentThe New Testament continues to emphasize the importance of fulfilling God's requirements, though it shifts the focus from the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. Jesus Christ, in His teachings, often highlighted the deeper, heart-level obedience that God desires. In
Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus summarizes the law with two great commandments: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments" .
The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, further clarifies the requirements for believers under the New Covenant. In
Romans 13:8-10, Paul writes, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" .
Faith and ObedienceThroughout Scripture, faith and obedience are intertwined as essential requirements for a relationship with God.
Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" . Faith is the foundation upon which obedience is built, and true obedience is an expression of genuine faith.
James 2:17-18 further emphasizes the relationship between faith and works: "So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds" . This passage underscores that faith is demonstrated through actions that align with God's requirements.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of requirements is deeply rooted in the character of God and His desire for His people to reflect His holiness and love. These requirements are not burdensome but are given for the well-being and flourishing of those who follow Him. Through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, believers are enabled to meet these divine requirements, living lives that honor God and testify to His grace.
Greek
1932. epieikeia -- fairness, gentleness... 1932 ("true equity") is a "sweet reasonableness" that knows when to "relax the
requirements concern ing others . . to carry out the of the law" (GR
...1345. dikaioma -- an ordinance, a sentence of acquittal or...
... a righteous deed NASB Word Usage act of righteousness (1), justification (1), ordinance
(1), regulations (2), requirement (1),requirements (2), righteous acts...
Library
TheRequirements of the King
... EXPOSITIONS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE; ALEXANDER MACLAREN, DD, Litt. D.; ST. MATTHEW
Chaps. XVIII to XXVIII THEREQUIREMENTS OF THE KING....
August the Ninth God'sRequirements
... AUGUST The Ninth GOD'SREQUIREMENTS. "What doth the Lord require of thee?"
"Micah 6:1-8. "To do justly." Then I must not be so...
God'sRequirements and God's Gift
... MICAH GOD'SREQUIREMENTS AND GOD'S GIFT.... The Prophet read off rightly God's
requirements, but he had not anything to say about God's gifts....
Days of Conflict
... The DESIRE of AGES Chapter 9 Days of Conflict. From its earliest years the Jewish
child was surrounded with therequirements of the rabbis....
Contradiction Between Our Life and Our Christian Conscience.
... with it"Christian Conception of Life not yet Understood by Men, but the Progress
of Life itself will Lead them Inevitably to Adopt it"TheRequirements of a...
Whether the Rule of Temperance Depends on the Need of the Present...
... Reply to Objection 3: As stated (ad 2), temperance regards need according to the
requirements of life, and this depends not only on therequirements of the body...
Jehoshaphat
... In an understanding of this law lay their safety; by conforming their lives to
itsrequirements they would become loyal both to God and to man....
I Wrote These Words Beforehand as a Statement of My Faith, when as...
... Moreover, I promised that, whatever therequirements of translation might be, I
would, while complying with them, maintain the principles of my faith inviolate...
The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... But it is also true that many of the most specific and solemnrequirements of the
law were neglected or violated during all these years by the holiest men....
The Impending Conflict
... many professors and teachers are instructing their students, that the law of God
has been changed or abrogated; and those who regard itsrequirements as still...
Thesaurus
Requirements (26 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Requirements (26 Occurrences). Matthew 23:23
"Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you
...Duties (46 Occurrences)
... Numbers 3:7 They shall keep hisrequirements, and therequirements of the whole
congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle....
Requirement (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Requirement (7 Occurrences). Romans 8:4 in order that
in our case therequirements of the Law might be fully met....
Kiriathjearim
... The greatest objections in the minds of most students are the unsuitability of the
position to therequirements of the Judah-Benjamin frontier and its distance...
Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)
... The greatest objections in the minds of most students are the unsuitability of the
position to therequirements of the Judah-Benjamin frontier and its distance...
Pastoral
... In the Acts and in the previously written Pauline epistles, it is impossible to
find such events or such a state of matters as will satisfy theserequirements....
Eleazar (74 Occurrences)
... Numbers 3:32 Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes
of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep therequirements of the...
Requires (21 Occurrences)
Duty (90 Occurrences)
... before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise,
shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping therequirements of the...
Heifer (22 Occurrences)
... Of the otherrequirements for the heifer she must be "red," ie reddish brown (Numbers
19:2). Likeness in color to blood is at first sight the most natural...
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