Reply To: Understanding the reasons for mitzvos

Meno, please elaborate. According to you, what is the Torah sheBaal Peh’s purpose?

WinnieThePooh, thank you, that is a good distinction. However, not everyone agrees that the Avos kept the Torah before it was actually given, as there are many complications with that. So bringing that as a proof doesn’t work well.

Perhaps we can state the distinction you mentioned in the following way: We can understand the details of a mitzvah, and we can look for meaning in a mitzvah, but the ultimate reason of why we do the mitzvah is because God commanded us to.

jakob, I don’t quite get your point. What is the difference between explaining and understanding a mitzvah?
Also, bringing the idea of a “Chok” to the discussion only strengthens the question, because that would imply that all the other mitzvos ARE able to be explained and understood.