"You have heard that is hath been said you should love your neighbor and hate your enemy - but I say unto you that you should love your enemy, do good to them that persecute you and pray for them that despitefully use you - that ye may be the children of your Father in Heaven - who maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sendeth His rain on the just and the unjust...
"for if ye love them that love you - what reward have you??
Do not even the publicans so?
"And if you salute your brethren only
What do ye more than others???
"Do not even the publicans so?"
It is all about Love. The rules and the focus on sin are for those who need them and who cannot understand what love means or who delight in condemnation and attack and in comparing themselves to those who do live by "rules" and focus on sin - those such as the Islamists and the Taleban wing of the republican party. That is what they love...that is what they worship. Hopefully, in time, they will yearn for more love in their lives - more love and more forgiveness and for peace of mind.
When you can love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul and when you can love your neighbor and your enemy as yourself - your dependence on rules and sin and punishment will be but a painful memory - like a child waking from a nightmare.
And your works will be good - because Love is good. I pray that that time will be soon for you...
"But the truth remains that God is Love and Jesus' teaching is about love and forgiveness - as well as peace."
That is an excellent summary.