Most of us see the need for law as a standard not merely of behavior but as protection of lives, rights, the very core of justice. In that manner, the law is meant to serve the people, not to oppress and burden so that others can benefit. We like to believe no one is above the law.

We like to believe it…but we know some do live above the law.

Not only that, but how about those who are elected to make laws but hold the process hostage for their own benefit of power. We’ve got wars that are entrenched, a political system that refuses to compromise for the sake of those who put them in power, even personal relationships where people think they should get to control others. Laws? Hold the other guy accountable but don’t apply it to me is the reigning premise.

You Think?

If there was a single issue which Jesus fought most vehemently against, it was that. Consider it only a problem in our day and age? Change out the culture and social norms, and like today, you will find first century Israel was a prime example of suppressing those who had no wherewithal to fight it. In his final days, Jesus unloaded on its biggest offenders with a feral vehemence that burned. Click Here. (Matthew 23:1-36)  It isn’t pretty.

Uh, God, shouldn’t we deal with everyone in love? Your son isn’t so loving here, just saying.

The Attack

Hearts and flowers this is not. Still, in the name of love, Jesus’ diatribe does many things.

First, the primary recipients of his message, not just on this day but for the three previous years of his ministry, was to his disciples, the main twelve he was teaching. Sure, there often was a crowd around, and this day in the Temple was no different. But his crew was the focus. And knowing what would happen before the week was out, Jesus wanted to make sure they (and we) got it.

Having just tangled over and over with the religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees, Jesus tells the disciples, in short, “Practice what they preach, but don’t do as they do.” Interestingly, Jesus’ teachings and theology was pretty close (not all, but close enough) to how they interpreted the Scriptures. Fine. Learn from them. But be careful. Jesus was majorly frustrated in how they puffed themselves up over their status and credentials but failed to live out the spirit of the law, what God meant in giving it to them as blessing, not burden.

Actually, Jesus did not have a problem with the law. He had said this before when he gave that talk on a mountain. “I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or writings of the prophets…I came to fulfill it.” The law stands as is. They couldn’t get him on that.

But where these religious rulers got it wrong was in how they didn’t exemplify the love of God in the law. In other words, they used it to attract attention to how pious they appeared to maintain their religious and political power and status, not relationship with God.

At their request, no less, Jesus had just summarized the law as Loving God with all you’ve got, and Love Your Neighbor as you love yourself. Obedience to the law then was loving God as God desires, submitting all parts of yourself to God’s will and design. What’s more, you can’t love God without loving your neighbor (and your enemy), again in connections which uphold the divine. So the Law holds in its purpose of bringing relationship with God and others.

“The greatest among you must be a servant.”

Here Jesus says it all. By taking the standpoint and mindset of one who lives in service to God and others, love is not just occasionally expressed but lived out. It finds its life not in the tolerance of go along to get along, let everybody do their thing, but in high expectations and standards that raise and exceed understanding of self to a vision of divine image and creation. It is the utmost criterion for justice and Godly expression of love.

Ultimately though, it transmits a blessing. Can anybody do this on her or his own? If you do the next right thing, create a fantastic mission statement to live out, or sell all you have and give to the poor, will it be enough? Can anybody really satisfy God’s purpose and help other persons in theirs? Don’t you think if you could, if anybody could, you/we would have done it by now? Look around. The human race often fails at this, and we fail big.

God Knows.

And Jesus knew it. At the end of this chapter, Jesus cried over Jerusalem and how this holy city wouldn’t allow God’s love in their lives. (Matthew 23:37-38) The only thing left was to lead by example, to serve God by loving others.

By humbly bearing a cross, Jesus served these whom he loved. All people, then and now, do not perfectly keep the law, but by accepting Jesus’ love, live above the law in the grace of God.   

Matthew 23:1-12

Subscribe to The Trouble with Jesus Blog Here.