This week Jesus goes into greater detail to contrast the external interpretation of the rabbinic tradition with His correct interpretation of the Law. Showing us once again that following Jesus demands a choice on our part, much like the choice we find in the reading from Deuteronomy 30:15-20

We repeat these familiar words every Sunday, and what Jesus says here is commonly referred to as "the summary" of the Law (or of the Old Testament). I will admit that "summary" cannot be called an inaccurate description, and indeed there are other New Testament texts that seem to support that characterization; nevertheless, is "summary" really the most accurate way of describing what Jesus is saying in this text? He doesn't say that the two commandments, to love God and to love our neighbor, serve as a summary of the Old Testament but that all that is in the Law and in the Prophets "hang" on them, which is not exactly the same thing. Or is it? This Sunday we will see if the distinction is merely a matter of splitting hairs or if it matters in some way. After all, if we're going to affirm something every time we worship together, it behoves us to understand what we are saying as best we are able.

In John we see the working out of this prophecy as it describes John the Baptist's recognition of Jesus as the Messiah and his declaration that he is not the Christ but only the messenger sent ahead to make the way for the Lord who is coming.