The second - century rabbi Akiba pointed to Leviticus 19:18, Jesus» second commandment, as the sum and substance of the law. (religion-online.org)
They did not wish to speak those words, for they wished to avoid casting judgments on the substance of the laws. (firstthings.com)
It now was assumed to mean that the substance of a law was open to question if it violated or impaired rights to life, liberty, or property, and that the content of those rights was subject to judicial determination and enforcement. (firstthings.com)