There Oughta Be a Law!

Today’s message was written by Chaplain Bob Griffiths

From Abbott and Costello to the present day, we hear that phrase. But then there are people who say there are too many laws already, and we should reduce, consolidate, and streamline what’s already on the books, which is sort of what Jesus does in the Sermon on the Mount. You see, most Christians think of the laws as just being the Ten Commandments. But if we include all the commandments found in the five books of the Torah, there are 613 of them! That’s a lot of laws, and they were designed thousands of years ago to govern every aspect of Jewish life, both sacred and secular. They are called mitzvot, which is the Hebrew plural of mitzvah, meaning commandment (although in Yiddish, a mitzvah is a good deed).

Well, by the time of Jesus, a whole body of interpretation and commentary on the mitzvot had developed during the preceding centuries. This was an oral tradition, and foremost among the keepers of this ever-growing tradition were the Pharisees, who were looked to by observant Jews as the ultimate interpreters of Mosaic laws and on how to live an observant life. The negative side of their work is that it seems they became possibly more interested in pure legalism than the intent behind the laws. The average Jew who wished to be scrupulously observant faced an impossible task – not only were you to wash your hands before eating, for example, but there was only a certain way in which you were to do so.

So here (in part) is how Jesus handles that: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'”
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Amen!