Genesis 13 Nehemiah 2 Matthew 12 (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)
In this passage in Matthew 12 we see Jesus challenged by the Pharisees who are trying to catch him out and discredit him. The Pharisees were the elite religious scholars of their day, renowned for their strict observance of the law and are first historically recorded as a sect in the two centuries before Jesus' birth when the idolatrous Greek influence was at its strongest in Jerusalem. So the Pharisees' initial motivation - to stay true to God's law at a time of widespread idolatry amongst God's people - was a good one. By Jesus' time, however, the Pharisees had taken their eyes off God and instead focused on themselves and their laws and traditions.
Like the Pharisees, we can often start with the right motivation but get caught up in religious observance. This "legalism" can take many forms, but all involve taking our eyes off Jesus and the honouring of God and focusing elsewhere. In contrast, Jesus saw to the heart of each person, to the heart of their problems and responded in love, meeting their needs - whether that
was on the Sabbath or otherwise. He did not concern himself with rules and regulations when obeying the command to "love thy neighbour as thyself". Jesus' quote from Hosea shows what God wants from us - mercy not sacrifice.
God does not want us to try and earn our way into heaven - phew, as we could never do that! Rather he wants us to hear his commands and obey them - showing mercy to others and loving our neighbour as ourselves.
Verse for reflection, Jesus quotes Hosea chapter 6, verse 6: "I require
mercy, not sacrifice".
(Men's Ministry Leadership Member)
