The Law And Love
Matthew 23:23-24 (NIV)
‘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 practised the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.’
This passage stood out to me recently during my daily devotions. I feel there is so much I can learn from Christ’s rebuke of the Pharisees. I, like the Pharisees, am quick to point out my faithfulness in the areas that come relatively naturally. For the Pharisees it was tithing; for myself - singing in worship or fellowship with others in Christ. I joyfully do these things and may even take pride in my weekly attendance to (online) church or (virtual) small group. Like the Pharisees, I am careful to follow Christ’s teachings that I am comfortable with: avoiding sexual immorality, drinking in excess, taking the Lord’s name in vain, for example. However, staying in my spiritual comfort zone can cause me to neglect what, in the previous chapter, Christ declares to be the most important aspect of the Law: love God, and love (my) neighbour.
The entire gospel is underpinned by love and humility. God so loved the world that his own son took the lowliest position, ‘even death on a cross’, to save my soul. Should I not, therefore, devote myself to learning to love and be humble, like Christ - serving others with no desire for repayment other than to see God’s glory? When I get distracted by spiritual legalism, and selfishly judge those that don’t live up to MY self-centred and broken hierarchy of righteousness, I am like the Pharisees ‘straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel,’ picking out the speck in my brother’s eye and leaving the plank in my own (Matt 7:3-5). All of Christ’s commands are important, but if I can begin with loving and serving him humbly, instead of focusing on my own brand of legalism, I will bring glory to his name.
Prayer: Holy Lord, thank you for loving me before time began and for forgiving me my unrighteousness. I pray for the courage to live a life of humility. Renew me from the inside, purge selfishness from my spirit and let me see those around me with your eyes, so that I may bring glory to you.