The Bible is much more than a simple book that can be simply read, understood, and followed. Consider what it is to follow the command to love others as Jesus loves us. While the command itself is simple enough to understand as every Christian knows a measure of the love of Christ, how do sinful people actually love as Christ loves?
Should we make a list of the ways Christ has loved from the gospels and do our best to mimic His behavior? Do we train ourselves by the power of our wills to make a habit of doing these things and avoid doing other things? This is simply to put ourselves back under the law.
While Jesus left us great instruction for what to do, He left us little in the way of how to perform what He has called us to.
It is not until we come to the epistles, and particularly the epistles of Paul, that we learn how to practically live out the life. It is here that we learn how to live in the power of Christ so that it is Christ living in us and through us. It is only in this way that we will love as Christ.
Simply understanding what the Bible says doesn't enable us to perform it.
The Bible itself is not like other books. And reading it is much like collecting seashells. If one goes to the beach, anyone can gather shells from the sand. Better shells can be found if you have a shovel or your hands to dig below the surface. But the most beautiful shells I have found are those which after having gathered shells off the sand and digging, are the ones that are uncovered as I'm just laying on the sand as the waves lap the shore and part the sand to reveal the shells.
In like manner, anyone can read the Bible and learn some truth. Those who dig deeper into the scripture and study and compare scripture with scripture will garner greater insight. But the deepest understanding comes as we meditate upon scripture and God Himself washes over our minds, revealing understanding and wisdom.
I say this not to demean anyone, but to suggest there is much more to scripture than what is on the surface.