Matt 22:34-40 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. KJV
What a brilliant answer! Jesus was seen as being against the law. Instead He shows that those who truly follow him fulfill the law.
The Pharisees were all wrapped up in details and missing the mark. They didn’t realize a great principle:
Jesus said “Go!” We say, “come on in as long as you don’t mess with our program.
Here’s an awesome moment in scripture. The Pharisees wanted to
insult Jesus so they thought up the most lowdown thing they could call Him. What was it? THE FRIEND OF SINNERS! Here’s the great irony, for Jesus it was the greatest compliment He could be given. This shows how little they understood of what He came to do. Many of us make the same mistake today.
I want to be a friend of sinners! I want my church to be the friend of sinners. I want to tear down the sign that says, “perfect people only” and put up the one that says, “broken people welcome!” |
