This is arguably the most oft repeated biblical command ever heard.  One wonders if, as Chaucer wrote in his Canterbury Tales, “familiarity breeds contempt.”  Have we heard it so much that we have lost its deeper meaning and how it is solidly welding to all the other instructions of Righteousness we study here?  Notice first the commentary on these seemingly three simple words.
 

[Keep my commandments] This is the only proper evidence of love to Jesus, for mere profession is no proof of love; but that love for him which leads us to do all his will, to love each other, to deny ourselves, to take up our cross [stake], and to follow him through evil report and through good report, is true attachment. The evidence which we have that a child loves its parents is when that child is willing, without hesitation, gainsaying, or complaining, to do all that the parent requires him to do. So the disciples of Christ are required to show that they are attached to Him supremely by yielding to all his requirements, and by patiently doing His will in the face of ridicule and opposition, 1 John 5:2-3.  –(from Barnes Notes)

Read through some related scripture beginning with the one referenced in the commentary:

1 John 5:2-3

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1 John 4:21

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Note: Reference the instruction in the study of Matthew 22:37-39.  The commandments are the essence of loving God and our fellow man.

1 John 3:22-24

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Note:  These verses describe, in a nutshell, the Salvation Process.  If we are addressing the elements of the process, we are doing those things pleasing in His sight.  Having a deep and profound belief that Christ is the foundation of keeping the commandments.  Christ dwells in us by our keeping of the commandments.  We are able to keep them by the Spirit of God in us.  That same Spirit tells us that Christ dwells in us and we in Him.

1 Peter 1:22

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

Note:  Not passive love, but fervent love.  We purify our souls by keeping the commandments.

1 John 3:10

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Note:  Keeping the commandments is doing Righteousness.

Rev 12:17

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Note: Satan identifies God’s called firstfruits because of their commandment keeping.

Ezek 18:5

But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right.

We are both just and justified by keeping the commandments and remaining steadfast in the Salvation Process.

Dan 9:4

And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.

Note: God shows mercy to those keeping His commandments.

Deut 26:16

This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

Josh 22:5

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Note:  “…with all thine heart and with all thy soul.”  These are the same words used in Matthew 22:37-39 about loving God.  Keeping the commandments IS loving God with all our hearts and souls.  This means that one cannot separate God from the commandments.

Deut 30:16
In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Note: With commandment-keeping come blessings.

Lesson 15: Instructions – Keep my commandments
 
 1] Yield, without hesitation to all Godly requirements.

2] Patiently do God's will despite circumstances.  (Note: we know God's will by fully immersing ourselves into the Word of God.)

3] Have a deep and profound belief that Christ is the foundation of the commandments.

4] Have fervent love of the brethren.

5] Know and understand that...

    a) the love of God is to keep the commandments
    b) He who loves God, loves his brother also
    c) we please God and are justified as long as we remain in the Salvation Process.
    d) Christ dwells in us by our keeping the commandments
    e) we are able to keep the commands by the Holy Spirit in us
    f) the Holy Spirit tells us that Christ dwells in us and we in Him
    g) we purify our souls by keeping the commandments
    h) one is righteous if he keeps the law and loves his brother.

    i) Satan identifies firstfruits by their commandment keeping

    j) God shows mercy to commandment keepers
    k) keeping the commandments is loving God with all your hearts and souls (Matthew 22:37-39)
    l) with commandment keeping come blessings.

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