Follow the Letter of the Law, Focus on the Spirit of the Law

 

Let us follow the letter of the law, but focus on the spirit of the law.

In the book of Matthew chapter 23, verses 13 to 22, Jesus calls out some Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They were all about following the rules to the letter, making themselves look good on the outside, but inside, they were unchanged.

These Pharisees were obsessed with the technicalities of the law, focusing on rituals that made them seem virtuous but didn't transform their inner selves. They were legalistic, missing the bigger picture.

Take the Sabbath, for example. They wouldn't let people heal the sick or pick grains to eat, even if they were hungry. The Sabbath is meant for rest, but shouldn't we also help others by healing them or feeding them? Absolutely!

Rest is important, but so is helping those in need.

Are we sometimes like the Pharisees, focusing on the letter of the law instead of its spirit?

When our kids don't do their chores or get bad grades, do we get angry and compare them to others or our past selves?

When someone jaywalks, do we judge them as lawbreakers?

When a seller doesn't fulfill their contract, do we immediately complain and report them?

When our spouses cook the same meal all week, do we push the plate away in frustration?

Friends, we create rules for safety, peace, and order in our society, workplaces, and homes. But it's more important to remember the purpose behind these rules. By focusing on the spirit of the law, we still achieve safety, order, and peace.

If our kids don't do their chores, maybe we can say, "I'm disappointed the chores aren't done, but if you need help, I'm here for you because I love you."

If someone breaks a traffic rule, we can think, "They must be in a hurry. I hope it's not an emergency."

If a seller breaches a contract, we can calmly say, "I'm disappointed, but let's find a solution together."

If our spouses cook the same dish, we can say, "Thank you for this delicious meal you made with love."

Friends, let's follow the letter of the law but focus on its spirit. By doing this, we become truly respectful, compassionate, kind, gentle, understanding, open-minded, and patient people, leading to a more fulfilling life.


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