Simplistic Complexity

"One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, 'Which is the first of all the commandments?' " - Mark 12:28

"You shall not have other gods beside me. " - Exodus 20:3

For a Jew in the time of Jesus, the answer to the scribe's question should have been second nature. Even for Jews, Christians and others of our time, the first commandment (as in the first rule on the first tablet brought down by Moses from Mount Sinai) is pretty easy to remember - "You shall not have other gods beside me". If the Ten Commandments deal with fundamental truths, this would no doubt be the first - if not the most important - because it establishes God as our God - our ultimate leader, example and who we strive to please.

So how does Jesus respond? Does he respond as the typical Jew of his time would? Yes - but with additions. He certainly reiterates that God is our "Lord alone" - but instead of ending it there, he continues, describing how we live that commandment: by loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. In short, we dedicate ourselves to loving God completely. It's a very human explanation to a very God-like commandment.

But Jesus doesn't stop there - he continues, pointing out the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. And by doing so, he summarizes the remaining nine commandments - in all their complexity - into one single instruction - love take from them. You respect them. You share in their successes, and help them through their failures.

It's a commandment that, despite it's simplicity, takes away any complexities in trying to understand what God wants us to do. If you love someone, you're doing what God is asking you to do.

Simple!