If we insist on being scrupulous in maintaining and achieving ceremonial and legal purity and righteousness, we will not fulfill the law of love and mercy and humility.
Lk 6:6-11
6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. 8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” 10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,“Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. 11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 10:25-37 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed,he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
LAW VERSUS GRACE; WORKS VERSUS FAITH
I had a truly great conversation with a brother on this very topic just today.
Yes, there is a beautifully fine line between law and grace, works and faith. One might even call it a “narrow path” the Lord keeps us walking. Notably, it is one He himself walked.
James reminds – or better said – admonishes: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”
At the same time Jesus gives clear instruction to the hypocritically legalistic, who would presume to construct even further barriers to those seeking healing, restoration and salvation: “If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
I’d like to put an exclamation point at the end of this gem of a passage from Matthew – the counterpart to the Lukan passage Howard cites above, which in Matthew also leads into Jesus’ healing of a man on the Sabbath.
Sometimes it is hard to live in Israel and raise small children in the midst of so much legalistic understanding of “mitzvot”, mysticism and superstition. My daughter has observed neighbors and asked me on occasion, “Abba, [so-and-so]’s parents say it’s wrong to strike a match on the Sabbath. Is it really okay if we do it?”
In an attempt to keep the balance for such an innocent heart, I smile and merely comment, “If it means I’ll be able to keep you from stumbling in the dark, then YES!”
LAW vs GRACE; FAITH vs WORKS
Thanks, M.
Paul also lived “blamelessly under the Law”. Yet in doing so, He persecuted the believers, and blasphemed the Lord.
Phlp 3:6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless
1Tim 1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Praise God that mercy triumphs over judgment for those who do not know what they do!