Last week we talked about the fine print — and a constitutional understanding of Scripture.
I’m really enjoying chewing on these ideas.
The whole idea brings me back to how Jesus had to keep clarifying the fine print, “You’ve heard it said before… but I say…”
Of course when he walked the earth, think of all the fine print the Pharisees memorized and tried to put into practice. All the Levitical law, all the ceremonial practices. And not only did they follow the law to a “T” — they also found ways to force that law upon everyone else and disassociated with those who didn’t follow the law like they did.
Kinda like kids do all the time. Ratting each other out, pointing fingers and trying to claim they had nothing to do with the other child who’s behaving badly.
And so the Pharisees get their law memorized (in fact one Pharisee later wrote that he was “fautless” when it came to the law (Phil 3)) — but then Jesus shows up on the scene and the Pharisee’s don’t like the way he’s ignoring the fine print they’ve come to love and treasure.
So they ask him, “Master, what article and section of our fine constitution would you say is the greatest of all?”
And he answers, “The first is, Love the Lord your God with everything you’ve got. The second is love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. All the fine print is based on these two ideas.”
(a little paraphrasing of Matthew 22:32-40)
Jesus essentially says, “Look guys — I know you’ve been learning all the fine print but there’s a bigger picture involved here. I’ve come to abolish all the fine print. It’s not that I’ve changed or the Father has changed — but we want your understanding of us to change. In fact, when you think about those 10 commandments I gave you back in the desert, the first 5 — all about how you relate to me and the Father. The next 5 — all about how you relate to others. It’s all about loving me and loving others. Focus on those two and everything will be great.”
But of course some of the Pharisees refused to listen — they couldn’t connect the dots. But for those who make the connection, Jesus offers life abundantly!
How are you doing with these ideas? What thoughts come to mind? What fine print do you have trouble letting go of?
