This little saying, is complex. An unnecessary complexity which is the tendency of human beings. There are some among us that are blessed with something more than average intelligence. They like to think, and THINK and THINK! In other words, many humans overthink what should be straightforward. Don't agree with me- OK, then I will use this opportunity to remind you of the affordable healthcare act- AKA as Obamacare. Thousands of pages, so hard to understand that the leadership in congress encouraged congress to pass it without reading it.
And its not just lawmakers, ancient Israel had that problem too. The Law given to Moses (and then to Israel) demanded a lot of the faithful. Literally, hundreds of laws. And what did Israel do? They added additional laws of their own in order to prevent anyone from breaking God's laws. I have hear it referred to as putting a hedge around the law.
What did God do about this? God's prophet Jeremiah says...
Jeremiah, Chapter 31 (World English Bible)
31 Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them, says Yahweh. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Yahweh: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people: 34 and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahweh; for they shall all know me, from their least to their greatest, says Yahweh: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more. (emphasis added)
And...
Hebrews, Chapter 8 (WEB)
1 Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this. We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a servant of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” 6 But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, he said,
“Behold, the days come”, says the Lord,
“that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers,
in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
for they didn’t continue in my covenant,
and I disregarded them,” says the Lord.
After those days,” says the Lord;
“I will put my laws into their mind,
I will also write them on their heart.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for all will know me,
from their least to their greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.
I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.”
13 In that he says, “A new covenant”, he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away. (emphasis added)
Human beings are a balance of thought, personality and physicality. By restoring the interpersonal aspect of what God wanted (i.e. ,obedience) humans would do what God wanted not just because there was law, but rather because they would come to know the intent of the law.
Doing what is right would become a matter of the heart and not just route obedience. This is what Jesus taught and it goes beyond law and embraces real genuine love for the creator in what the adherent does in all aspects of this life.
Gary, are you just obeying, or are you loving?
Something for us all to consider!!!