For the whole law is accomplished in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Galatians 5
Hi Dan!
And...as we've previously chatted (in another thread)....
The "love your neighbor" command (Lev. 19:18) is NOT a substitute for our duty to grow in faithful obedience to the other Torah instructions as well.
That's why Jesus teaches obedience to ALL Torah details (Mt. 5:19) as a requirement for being GREAT in the forthcoming kingdom.
That's why Jesus teaches obedience to the weightier AND lighter elements of Torah (Mt. 23:23).
That's why Jesus applies Dt. 6:25 to us (i.e., "ALL" the commands of Torah) in Mt. 22:37 (which applies Dt. 6 to us).
That's why Jesus sends forth Torah-teachers (Gr. "grammateus", Mt. 23:34) to properly represent His fully Torah-obedient Torah-teaching ministry. (The "grammateus" teach ALL Torah...not merely Lev. 19:18 as a substitute.)
That's why Jesus says ADDITIONAL commands (not merely Lev. 19:18) are sufficient for eternal life (Mt. 19:17-19; Lk. 10:25-28).
That's why Jesus is ANGRY at religious people who invent man-made traditions which conflict with Torah-obedience (Mk. 7:8-9). (Thus, pork on Easter is a BAD idea!)
That's why Jesus casts away religious people who exemplify lawlessness (Torah-lessness, Gr. "anomia", Mt. 7:21-23).
That's why Jesus' disciples obeyed Torah details, just as Jesus did (Lk. 6:40), and we should too (1 Jn. 2:6).
That's why Jesus applies ALL of His PRE-CROSS Torah-obedient teachings to disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:20).
That's WHY Paul took a vow to prove that he "walked orderly in obedience to the law" (including the Law of Moses and infant circumcision law, Ac. 21). Torah details STILL apply. We should imitate Paul (1 Cor. 11:1; Php. 4:9).
That's WHY Paul continues to apply Torah details to Himself (Ac. 23:5). We should imitate Paul (1 Cor. 11:1; Php. 4:9)
I could go on and on...
CONCLUSION: "Love your neighbor" FULFILLS (not REPLACES) the law.
Sure, if you love your neighbor, then you will seek to obey all observable Torah as an expression of that love (thus, "love your neighbor" fulfills the law). But that's no excuse to ignore Torah details! Rather, it's WHY we should OBEY Torah details.
That's why Torah details STILL apply to us....not merely the greatest two commands found in Dt. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18.
Agreed?
blessings...
BibleGuy