Romans 13:9-10, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
The Pentateuch contains over 600 laws (613 if you want to count them). The State of Texas Transportation Code of Vehicles and Traffic only contains 454 laws, yet we struggle not only to remember them but to keep them. Aren’t you glad that God has simplified the requirements to make it simpler to be obedient to Him?
Similarly, when a trap was set for Jesus by asking which was the greatest commandment, His answer was “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39) If we start here and make a great effort to genuinely keep these, so many other issues of life fall into place. We won’t lie, cheat, kill, or skip church on Sunday to watch the football game. When our hearts are turned toward Him and rightly toward others, these issues are resolved through having the mind of Christ and living a transformed life, not checking off a list.
