It’s not always easy to follow God’s law. In fact, sometimes it’s impossible. I'm not just talking about my willful flesh, but there are times when God’s commandments conflict. Do you lie to save a life?
The religious folk of Jesus’ day were consumed with this. They wanted to be obedient but recognized the inevitability of God’s laws colliding. A main point of discussion among the rabbis of the first century was which commandments were most important. So they set upon ordering all of God’s commandments so they would know what to do.
They all accepted the first and foremost commandment – Love God.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4
But problems started with number two. The Pharisees decided that the next most important commandment was to keep Sabbath. The gospels show how often Jesus invades into that conversation. The Zealots felt the idolatry commandment came next and would kill in order to keep it. Jesus was asked directly about this debate by the other rabbis and His answer is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
And one of them, a Torah teacher, asked Him a question to test Him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:35-39
Jesus said there really are only two – and all the others flow from those. Love God and love your neighbor. So when your neighbor’s ox falls in a hole on Sabbath – it’s okay to work and break Sabbath to get him out so as to love your neighbor. Jesus was okay breaking Sabbath to heal – He loved His neighbor.
When do I turn down an opportunity to help someone in order to fulfill my own sense of obedience? Does helping someone in need take precedence over getting to weekly service? “Sorry, I can’t help you move. I have church that day.” Am I like the priests who didn’t want to become unclean (a commandment for them) and shunned the injured man on the Jericho road? Does my own sense of propriety or righteousness push others from the kingdom instead of drawing them near?
There is nothing wrong with observing Sabbath. Jesus did - but not to the exclusion of loving others. Idolatry, putting anything before God, is wrong. God said so. But murder, or even disrespect for that matter, is not a better way.
I want to follow Jesus and His example in showing me how to live. God is still teaching me what true love looks like. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it doesn’t even look like love. And sometimes it looks like disobeying some of His other instructions, even though He showed the way.
1 Response