I Want You To Show Mercy

“At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

(Matthew 12:1-8 NLT-SE)

Jesus and His disciples broke the law.

Not only did Jesus break the law, I suspect He instigated the disciples law breaking…He ate first, so they would do likewise.

When the Pharisees rightly noted this crime against the law of God, Jesus responded…‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’

The simple fact that they were hungry and in need of food was reason enough to break the law…and Jesus declared them innocent of any offense against God in doing so.

‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’

We saw a modern day application of this principle on these pages last week when long time friends and brothers in the Lord shared how they had shown the love and mercy of God to family members who are living outside traditional Christian sexual standards.

These brothers didn’t say the law was wrong or bad…they simply embraced the higher law of love that fulfills all the commandments.

I was humbled by their hearts and holiness.

I believe this passage also applies in our current immigration crisis.

Whenever I hear or read “illegal is illegal” I hear Jesus quietly saying “I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices”.

This does not mean that we never apply the law…it means we act in compassion and mercy, not cruelty and hate.

Humans made in the image of God fleeing poverty and violence have good reasons to break the law…how we react tells us how much of the heart of Jesus we possess.

I can hear some of you from here…”this is a slippery slope”.

The hill slopes both ways…either into the valley of loveless legalism or unbiblical license on the other.

I would rather be caught erring on the side of love…because the only weapon we wield is sacrificial love.

Make your own application…