Run To Instead of From

Matthew 12:1-13

People tend to fall into two camps. Either they are very legalistic and see things in black and white, or they are very accepting and see everything as gray. The Bible is clear that we should see things as black and white, but not for the sake of the Law. The problem with the Pharisees is that they made the Law their god and became self-righteous. In becoming self-righteous, their world revolved around themselves and they wanted everyone to see them.

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At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Matthew 12:1-13

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The law was and is not about revealing us to the world, but about revealing God and his holiness to the world. If we are honest with ourselves, the more we know of God's law, the less we want people to see us. We realize that we have violated God's law and are condemned by it. Just as Adam and Eve hid in the garden, so will we hide when we recognize our sinfulness before God. This is not what God desires from the law. He does not desire that we hide ourselves, but rather that we run to Him. It is the sin itself that motivates us to flee from God and isolate in our depraved condition. Sin matures into death. It is the desire of sin to come to maturity. So that it has time to germinate, it pushes its host away from God who would cut it away like a tumor. The goal of sin is to kill its host. Not only does sin work to kill its host, but it also works to condemn others who are in sin. Sin takes on a hive mentality to which it swarms all humanity. It is not content that one man or woman die, but that it destroy all people. So, sin attacks others. The law that should drive us to God is often used as a weapon to drive people away from God. Religious people cast stones condemning others while misusing the same law to justify themselves. The purpose of the law is two-fold. First, it reveals to us God and His holiness. Second, it reveals to us how far we are from God's standard of holiness. When we miss the mark, that is sin. Interestingly enough, that is exactly what the word sin means, to miss the mark. When Jesus said in Matthew 7:1, "Judge not that ye be not judged", this is exactly what he was talking about. He did not mean that we turn a blind eye to sin, but rather that we see sin and first address it in our own lives (thus the beam and speck statement). There is nothing wrong with calling sin sin. That is part of proclaiming the Gospel. However, when we hold others to a standard that we ourselves are not even attempting to adhere to, that is when it becomes a problem. God, in revealing His law to us, did so to help us. The intent of the law is not to condemn, but to confront us with our sin, convict us of our offense toward God, and to counsel us to repentance. It is not to drive us into hiding, but to drive us into God's presence to seek mercy. Before God and his holy law, all humanity is on equal ground. We are all sinners in need of forgiveness and in no position to condescend anyone else because of their sins. Even those who have received forgiveness are in no place to condemn. We are no better than anyone else because of anything we have done. We therefore proclaim Christ and His work of salvation, not to condemn, but as comfort and give hope.

Father, help me to see your law and your holiness. When I sin, may I run to you for forgiveness and not try to hid from you and conceal my sin. Help me to proclaim your word as a message of love, hope, and salvation.