This Answers A Lot

As we have been studying the book of Romans as a church, a lot of talk about the Jew and the law have surfaced. It is confusing coming form a Gentile point of view. All we can safely say is that Paul, a former Pharisee dedicated to the law, and Jesus weren’t happy with the law; and neither placed any trust in the law of men. Jesus takes the time to share the truth in love with some Pharisees who had come from Jerusalem to check the Teacher out. They were gathered around trying to find something that they could accuse Jesus of. They didn’t have to wait long, because “Jesus don’t play.” Right off the bat, the Pharisees noticed that Jesus’ disciples were not following their ceremonial law about washing before they ate. However, it is explained to us that this was a law made up by the elders, not a command of God. Throughout the year, the Jews had added oral laws to the commands of God, and had burdened the people with so many laws that they had to listen to whatever the “law-yers” told them to do. Jesus explains how the Pharisees and all the Jews would not eat unless they washed for religious purposes. Furthermore, they had a bunch of other traditions that basically meant keeping a good facade. So, the Pharisees challenged Jesus on why his disciples didn’t keep the traditions of the elders. Jesus immediately juked them pulling out a verse from Isaiah that foretold something about these hypocrites, who give God lip service, but their heart is not right. They just want to look good before man, but God ain’t happy. Jesus followed that with a glaring example to shut them up. He told of how some of them would give an extra big financial gift to God (so they could brag and look good before men), but it was money they normally would have used to help their elderly parents. Because Jesus mentions this, we can certainly ascertain that their motive from the heart was judged wrong by him. God tells us to give all we’ve got to him by whatever means we have. But He also tells us to honor our father and mother. These folks didn’t have welfare, social security, and retirement benefits. Jesus knew that these guys would do anything to look puffed up, including not taking care of their parents which was not merely a tradition for them but a command of God. Jesus told them that they nullified the very word of God by their new tradition of allowing this practice. Plus, he added “and you do many things like that.” In other words, this was just one example, and if they needed more just ask. --- God looks at the heart, not man’s scorecard.