The Law of Love

Jesus respected the laws of His religion because they provided a way to live a life that was pleasing to God, but He also knew there were times when certain laws should be set aside or ignored in order to protect something important.

For example, Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field of grain on the sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8).  The disciples were hungry, so they helped themselves to some of the grain, eating it as they walked along with Jesus. Unfortunately, some Pharisees who observed this disrupted Jesus’ peaceful sabbath stroll by exclaiming, “See here! Your disciples are doing what is not permitted on the sabbath.”  The irony is that it was they who really didn’t see at all.  They were so focused on an absolutely unbending application of the law (and on finding fault with Jesus) that they failed to see what they needed to see: human beings in need.  Jesus didn’t tell them that sabbath laws don’t matter, much less that they should be carelessly or casually ignored; but He does insist that there are times when they ought to give way for the sake of human well-being.  The purpose of any law (both civil and religious) is to serve the common good by creating the conditions in which all members of a society can live well together and flourish.  But nobody can flourish when they’re hungry or when any other basic human needs can’t be met, and that’s why Jesus said His disciples did the right thing in breaking that sabbath law.

“It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice,” Jesus tells us. 

God calls us to interpret His law through the eyes of mercy.  Mercy always refreshes us, lifts us up and fills us with new energy.  It motivates us to worship and fills us with hope.  Mercy doesn’t impose a heavy legalistic burden upon us; rather, God’s mercy and law together rejuvenates us and refreshes us.

If we take those words to heart, letting them inform our attitudes and actions, we won’t be so quick to judge and find fault.  That’s because we’ll know that even though all laws matter, none matter more than the law of love.