The Pharisees and some legal experts from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. They saw some of his disciples eating food with unclean hands. (They were eating without first ritually purifying their hands through washing. The Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat without first washing their hands carefully. This is a way of observing the rules handed down by the elders. Upon returning from the marketplace, they don’t eat without first immersing themselves. They observe many other rules that have been handed down, such as the washing of cups, jugs, pans, and sleeping mats.) So the Pharisees and legal experts asked Jesus, “Why are your disciples not living according to the rules handed down by the elders but instead eat food with ritually unclean hands?” He replied, “Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you hypocrites. He wrote, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. Their worship of me is empty since they teach instructions that are human words. You ignore God’s commandment while holding on to rules created by humans and handed down to you.” (Mark 7:1-8, CEB)
Which is more important for a follower of Christ, keeping all of the rules, or loving God and neighbor?
Isaiah wrote, “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. Their worship of me is empty since they teach instructions that are human words.” Isaiah said the people were more concerned with keeping the rules of the elders, which were human words, rather than keeping the words of God, which are truly what is important.
Rules are necessary for good order, and we should keep them, however when love is needed, and that means breaking a rule, which is more important? Keeping the rule or showing/being loving?
If you said keeping the rules, please try again.
Love wins. Yesterday, today, and always.
Love trumps rules.
aSacredRebel 