“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” – Matthew 23:23
As Jesus went from community to community, he encountered a great variety of people. He was often welcomed with open arms by those who wanted to hear his teaching. They had heard of the signs and wonders he performed, and they hoped to experience it for themselves. Jesus was not always confronted with excitement and joy. Often Jesus encountered skeptics and adversaries who challenged him and the good news he was sharing with the world.
The group that most often confronted Jesus was the Pharisees. The Pharisees were a group who separated themselves for study and interpretation of the law. They believed that it was more important to focus on the law than the sacrificial work that was done in the temple. They believed that the way to connection with God was through obedience to the Law. Their opposition to Jesus was because he did not join them in their interpretation and teaching of the law. Jesus honored the law, but not the oral tradition that had been expanded and created by the Pharisees.
The Pharisees teaching of the law was a burden to the people. No matter how hard a person tried, it was never good enough. The godly life was out of reach. They would always fall short of the mark set by the Pharisees. The law did not reveal how good was, it only revealed how imperfect God’s people were. It was not a reflection of the kingdom of God that Jesus came to proclaim. The law that was once a gift from God had become a weight too heavy for God’s children to carry.
When Jesus confronted the Pharisees, in the 23rd chapter of Matthew, he was harsh. The Pharisees had created a barrier to God’s presence. They added more and more rules to the daily life of a person of faith. They had replaced “justice, mercy and faithfulness” with legalities that did not lead to the joyful life God intends for people.
The faithful Christian life embraces both the law of God and the Grace of God. We know that God gives us commandments to follow, yet God’s laws are proclaimed in love and supported by grace. This is why the first and greatest commandment is to love God, and the second is like it, to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). The laws that follow must be seen in the light of love, justice, mercy and faithfulness. Following God takes a commitment to following the commandments and a deeper commitment to grace and love. This is the life of faith that reflects how God acts in our world. Our life together requires rules, and our relationship requires love and grace. When we look at Jesus’ life, we are reminded that our world needs a faithful people who live a life of love and grace so that all may experience the life God intends for His Children.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
