Guard and Preserve

Matthew 19:17 says, “And He said to him, ‘Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’”

The two main Greek words of “keep” in the New Testament both mean more than just “obey.” though this meaning is certainly included.  They also mean “guard” and “preserve.” We are told so by Christ, in our text above, to guard and obey God’s commandments.

The same urgent command to keep what God has given is applied to many other entities in Scripture. For example, Paul stresses that we are to “guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’” (1 Tim. 6:20). In other words, false science (evolution) and vain babbling (humanistic philosophies) will seek to destroy the tenets of God’s truths.

Each person is also urged to “keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27), and to “keep yourself free from sin” (1 Tim. 5:22). The forces of darkness make perpetual attacks against the spiritual and moral integrity of the Christian, so we must constantly be alert to protect ourselves against their enticements. Then we must also endeavor “to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3), and to “keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 1:21), for the enemy will continually try to sow discord and bitterness among God’s people.
   
There are many verses which stress the keeping of His commandments (John 14:15) and the keeping of His words (1 John 2:5). Finally, in the very last chapter of the Bible the Lord sums it all up, as it were, when He promises, “Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:7).