I’m seeing in Jeremiah 7 an answer to the Jewish lady’s question about which laws should we obey. I had quoted Deuteronomy 29.29 and something from Deuteronomy 30 in connection with contrasting “study” with action. She asked, which of the 613 commands should we obey, and how do Christians choose? My answer was to quote Rabbi Jesus’ greatest commandment and second greatest.

Now I’m looking at Jeremiah 7.

If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. (Jeremiah 7.5 – 7, NIV)

I don’t think any prophet called the people into account for violating things like “don’t mix two types of cloth in a garment” or “don’t boil a kid in its mother’s milk.” The prophets seem to focus on the Big 2. “Deal with each other justly…do not oppress the foreigner…do not shed innocent blood…do not follow other gods….

Jesus said as much:

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22.40, NIV)

Psalms 15 and 24 focus on these kinds of behaviors as well. Micah 6.8 sums it up:

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6.8, ESV)