In the two commandments we find broad principles which a person must take and interpret, under God's guidance to make his own rule for life. But the Scribes reduced these principles to petty rules and regulations. The Pharisees separated themselves from everyone else in order to keep these rules and regulations to perfection. To the orthodox Jew, religion was a matter of keeping these rules.

Jesus came to bring out the real meaning of the Law. The commandments stress respect for God's day, respect for life, parents, property, truth, for another's good name and for oneself. We have to seek out God's Will and once we discover what it is, we need to dedicate our life to obeying it.

He shows us what it actually means to give God the reverence due to Him and to man the respect he deserves. Reverence and respect consist not of mere obedience to the rules but rather to a decision to live a life of mercy and love for others. We need to mould our lives on the commandment of love. For real perfection, a Christian has to be dead to one's selfishness and have Christ live in him. As Paul said, "It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me."