The problem with the Pharisees was that they were following the letter of the law but not fulfilling the purpose of the law. For them, the law was a spiritual test to determine who was in and who was out of the Kingdom of God. But the law was never meant to function this way. The law of God is like the markers on the edge of a road that help you to see where the road is. The law points to where we must go, but just because you keep the law does not mean you are going anywhere. Many Christians get preoccupied with upholding correct beliefs as though Jesus died to found a new theological school. Doctrine is important, as indeed the law is important. However, there are plenty of people in the world who believe all the right things but who are going nowhere. It is possible to get so preoccupied with ideas and so defensive about your theological persuasion that you mistake the mission of God with contending for a system of ideas. When this happens, the point has been missed. Jesus died on the cross so that we could have a relationship with God. Having a loving relationship with God that flows out into a life of love towards others is the point of everything written in the Bible. Everything else is a means towards this end. Life is not about keeping a law of ideas or religious practice. It is about fulfilling the purpose of the law.
Reflect on the health of your relationship with God.
Read Matthew 5:17-20
