"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." MT 22:37-40
These words may seem like common sense to you, but take into account that Jesus was speaking to a Pharisee, who was a scholar of God's law. He knew the holy scriptures inside & out, and himself a teacher. There were reportedly over 600 regulations of the law of Moses. This Pharisee realized the wisdom which Jesus possessed, having heard him speak to others. And perhaps he wanted something more fundamental that would blanket over all the laws. Jesus gave him the answer. Notice that LOVE is at the heart of these two commandments. It is the cornerstone of our faith.
When we commit to following these two responsibilities, all the others will follow. By putting God first above all else and treating others with the love and respect which we would want for ourselves, we are in fact abiding to all of God's laws.
