Let's keep it simple

Jesus was asked "Which commandment is the most important of all?"

If you noticed Jesus was asked many questions throughout the Gospels. And in each instance he knew the hearts of those who were asking and answered as to what, he knew, they needed to hear. Many times Jesus was also asked things to see if he would slip up and give a wrong answer. The "experts" wanted to find some reason to hate Jesus.

I think Jesus also knew our lives, how we tend to make mountains out of molehills. Think about it. God gave Moses 10 things that He felt were important. The original top ten list. By the time Jesus walked the earth these so called "Experts" had over 400 laws wrapped around them. They had laws for everything. How to eat, what to eat, even how to wash your hands.

When Jesus was asked this question I wonder if he was thinking "come on guys can't we just keep it simple?" so he answers “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The experts even said he answered correctly and then Jesus trumps them, after seeing that the experts answered thoughtfully, and said "you are not far from the kingdom of God" These guys were so impressed that they all kept quiet after that.

I have read this many times when I first started reading the Bible until one day my simple mind said "Whoa dummy, do you have any idea why Jesus picked these two as the greatest?" and then it hit me. These two cover the "Top Ten" If I love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength then I will put no Gods before him, not worship idols, not take his name in vain and I will keep his Sabbath holy. This covers the first 4 of the 10 commandments. AND... if I love my neighbor as myself then I will want to honor my father and mother, I wont want to kill anyone, or commit adultery, or steal from them, lie to them, or covet what they have. This one has the next 6 covered.

He answered is such a way as to keep it simple enough for us to understand and still honored His Father by have seeing that His commandments were followed.

I like simple