Matthew 22 presents to us a series of debates between those who thought they knew the law perfectly well and Jesus, who knew that understanding the scriptures was much more than a quest for knowledge. The chief priests and the elders expanded the Ten Commandments into more than 600 laws and by-laws, so that no one, in fact, could ever keep them perfectly. Hence, those who read the law took pride in merely knowing the law. Jesus on the other hand, simplified even the Ten Commandments to two simple commandments. Even as he simplified them, he brought in a significant nuance. Nowhere does the Old Testament show that loving God and loving the neighbour are two sides of the same coin, but Jesus does this.

The reading from the book of Ruth exemplifies a love relationship that views love of God and neighbour, the way Jesus expects each of us to do. What is inspiring is that Naomi and Ruth both manifest their love for each other spontaneously and their love was inspired by the scriptures and not conditioned by them.