Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil the law (Matthew 5:17). And in a sense, he wants us to do the same: not just to follow rules but to be truly good. The Pharisees were very good at following the law. But this isn’t what God wanted. He wanted their lives to express what the law is pointing to: the life of love for God and others. Most people would agree that for me to be a good husband I must spend quality time with my wife. But if I were to do this only because it is the right thing to do then I would not yet be a good husband. My wife doesn’t want me to spend time with her out of duty to a rule. The rule might be useful in showing me what I lack and what I should be doing but I must quickly move beyond the rule itself. I must become what the rule is pointing to: a husband who loves and appreciates his wife so much that he enjoys spending time with her and makes a priority of this. Likewise, God doesn’t want us following rules. He wants us to become what the rules are pointing towards. The Sabbath law was designed to create a people whose lives revolve around worship. The day was to be divine ‘quality time’ for relationships with God and others. But it had become a legalistic identity badge and therefore its purpose was lost. Don’t just follow rules. Take time to love God and others and you will fulfill the law.
Ask God to shape you into the person he wants you to be.
Read Luke 6:1-11
