SCRIPTURE: Mark 7:9-13
When the focus is on rules, then people start to look for loopholes.
At a youth event, some swears just as they step out of the church; they see me and look sheepish, but then add, ‘at least it wasn’t in church’.
Aside from the screwy temple theology (as if the church building is more holy than God’s creation), he found a way to feel better about his ‘sin’; he drew a line that made it seem better to him.
This is what the religious leaders were doing with rules, looking for loopholes to make it look like they were obeying God, when they were not.
(Like the sabbath rules they added, which stated you could not carry a load on the sabbath; if your house was burning down, you could not carry the clothes, but you could wear them all, at the same time, and that was OK).
God is not interested in religious rules; He wants us to love and serve Him with all our heart.
As each person loves God, they will do things that express that love for God, and people.
The religious leaders found a way to keep their money and supposedly honour God (calling it Corban).
People might be impressed, but God is not; He sees, He knows, He discerns our motives.
Think of some of the religious rules or behaviours you practice; do you observe them because you genuinely want to love and serve God, grow closer to Him, be more like Him, and share His love with others.
God knows if you do or not.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, You know. This is not just meant for making me feel guilty, but it should lead me to be honest. Show me where I have developed loopholes that serve my own selfish desire.
Letting traditions interfere with the laws of God. Earlier we read of the disciples eating without properly washing according to the law requirements. They were called on it by the Pharisees. But Jesus, in response talks to a deeper issue today, where the Pharisees are not treating their parents with respect. They were giving things to God, that could otherwise be used to help their parents. They would deprive their parents of things by giving to God.
I wonder what kinds of things have crept into my culture that doesn’t square with the spirit of what God wants from me. It is hard to look at things that you have been brought up with, and look at it objectively. Are our rules too lax? Too harsh? What about taking this a little broader – Are the laws of Canada to lax or too harsh? Should we be more merciful to those who break the law? Or should we ensure that others follow what we feel is right?
Why is there even a commandment that we should honour our parents? Is this not a natural thing to do? Do we need to be told to be nice to family?
Why is there a law to keep the Sabbath? If the Sabbath is literally Saturday, then not very many of us in my culture do a very good job with this. And if it is okay to pick another day, perhaps Sunday, then what exactly should we be doing that day? This commandment has become interfered with by our traditions.
I even have trouble with the big 10 commandments, when I try to evaluate what is meant by them, in relation to my traditions. Going into all of the small rules and regulations of the old testament would show that I am not a good follower of the law.
Does saying Jesus came to complete the law take away any of our requirements? I already know that I tend to pick and choose what rules and laws I chose to follow. Tough questions.
I pray that following Jesus will provide me with the grace and forgiveness for not following God’s laws to the letter.