Reflect today on how you look at God's commands and His law

If you knew what it meant, I want pity, not sacrifice, you wouldn't have condemned these innocent men. " Matthew 12: 7

Jesus' apostles were hungry and gathered heads of wheat as they walked to satisfy their hunger. As a result, the Pharisees condemned the apostles for doing what they claimed was "illegal" on the Sabbath. They claimed that picking grain heads while walking was considered "work" and therefore violated the law requiring rest on Saturdays.

Really? Did the Pharisees seriously think the apostles sinned by harvesting wheat as they walked to satisfy their hunger? We hope that it is not difficult for us to see the absurdity and irrationality of this sentence. The apostles did nothing wrong but were nevertheless sentenced. They were "innocent men" as Jesus points out.

Jesus responds to the irrationality of the Pharisees by reminding them of the Scripture: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice". And he underlines that the Apostles were unjustly condemned because the Pharisees do not understand this passage and this command of God out of mercy.

The Sabbath commandment to rest was from God. But the commandment to rest was not a requirement for itself. This was not a legal requirement that somehow honored God only by strictly observing him. Saturday rest was primarily a gift from God to humanity because God knew that we needed rest and rejuvenation. He knew that every week we needed time to slow down, offer special worship to God, and enjoy the company of others. But the Pharisees turned the Sabbath rest into a burden. They realized a strict legalistic observance that did nothing to glorify God or refresh the human spirit.

A key truth we can learn from this passage is that God calls us to interpret His law through the eyes of mercy. Mercy always refreshes us, lifts us up and fills us with new energy. It motivates us to worship and fills us with hope. Mercy does not impose a heavy legalistic burden on us; rather, mercy and the law of God together rejuvenate and refresh us.

Reflect today on how you look at God's commands and His law. Do you see it as a legalistic and burdensome requirement? Or do you see it as a blessing from God's mercy destined to lighten your load?

Lord, help me to love your law. Help me to truly see him in the light of your mercy and grace. May I be refreshed by all Your commands and elevated by Your will. Jesus I believe in you.