Today’s reading is from Matthew 5:17-20, part of Jesus’s teachings known as The Sermon on the Mount. It is about legal compliance in every respect and taking compliance to the next level by living the letter and the spirit of the teachings of the Old Testament.
Most of us go through a rebellious phase (or two) in our lives. We may challenge the reason for laws and what we consider to be petty rules and regulations. At the same time we can be extremely critical of people in the public eye who we think may be failing to keep rules and codes of conduct we see as important. It is the case that each of as has a capacity for hypocrisy, of having different sets of rules for different people and circumstances.
In this, as in so much we miss the real point. The teachings of the Old Testament we designed to help people live together safely, to provide one another with mutual support while making sure that no one was left ‘high and dry’ in challenging times. The statute book became lengthy as more parts of life were brought in under the umbrella; the principle remained that observance was good for all and good for God’s relationship with his people.
Legalism is different. Legalism is defined as, ‘the practice of following the law very closely, especially by paying more attention to rules and details than to the intentions behind them’ (Cambridge Dictionary). In other places Jesus spoke of love being the greatest of all commandments, overarching the others. Love includes understanding, empathy, mutual respect and so many more qualities that mark out the people God wants us to be.
A Prayer
Lord, in my rebellious days help me to see why you have called us to live as you have. Give me understanding of your design for the machinery of society so I want to make it work smoothly without constant tinkering. Help me to see the love behind the law but not to be legalistic about the way it works. Help me live as Jesus wants us to live.