The teaching of Jesus was higher than the Law of Moses. That ancient covenant was given by God to offer people on this earth the best anyone could have while spiritually dead. It could not possibly bind those who operated in the Spirit, who embraced the older Covenant of Abraham. The Law was not of the Spirit, but pointed to things of the Spirit. To embrace the Spirit in faith was to fulfill the Law. Jesus teaches this higher covenant, obeying the heart of His Father.
It was perfectly legal for anyone crossing a field or vineyard to pick as much as they can consume immediately. The idea is life and health of your neighbors is more important than the minuscule loss from a few grazers. The accusation of breaking the Law was actually false, but the Pharisees had abstracted and extended the principles falsely, so they saw this as harvesting and winnowing, which were illegal. Jesus points out King David did not adhere so precisely to the Law, because he adhered to a higher covenant of faith. By that older covenant, David touched the Ark of Covenant like a priest, and much earlier had eaten Bread of Presence. David's sins were also well known. Yet for all this, he was man after God's own heart -- he loved and obeyed God directly, and the Law was merely a framework for that obedience. Any man who walked in such faith was master of the Law, including the Sabbath observance.
To further drive that point home, Jesus raised the issue on another Sabbath, while teaching in a synagogue. He was fully aware the lawyers and partisans were hoping to catch Him disobeying their silly rules. Calling for a man with a crippled arm to stand up front, Jesus asked the rhetorical question what the Sabbath was for -- good or evil? It would be evil to neglect human need on the Sabbath, but the Pharisees had some rule about healing being labor, not lawful on the Sabbath. Technically, Jesus did nothing, but told the man to extend his hand. In so doing, he was healed -- an obvious miracle which could only come from God. The partisans were incensed at Jesus' rejection of their rules. Nothing mattered to them but their carefully reasoned and locked down analysis of the letter of the Law. They had no inkling of the Spirit, and certainly no love for anyone but themselves.
Jesus prayed all night before taking the next big step: calling twelve of His disciples to become full time representatives of His ministry. Luke names them differently than the other Gospels, but it's not hard to figure out when a man might have a nickname, or a second name. Everyone of them was unqualified to serve as a disciple of just about any mainstream rabbi. Jesus chose based on His Father's plans, and at the leading of the Holy Spirit, not with the usual paper chase of resumes and documented accomplishments.
Just about every teacher in history has had favorite themes and phrases, because they seem to work well in presenting the material. Luke offers a monologue which resembles the Sermon on the Mount, but the setting is different. While they were down on a meadow, Jesus was teaching from a seated position, as was customary. Many were healed, coming from places which required at least a day's walk, perhaps even waiting in the area overnight. At one point, he looks up at His attendants helping Him, and says some things directed specifically at them.
It is clear even to a casual reader Jesus is using the symbolic language of paradox. Abandon worldly possessions and gain the Kingdom of Heaven. Ignore fleshly appetites and be filled with truth. Weep over sins and know the joy of salvation. Embrace the hatred of spiritless humans, for it puts you in the company of the great prophets of old. If you can't forsake worldly possessions, you'll never have anything better. If you can't bear to fast, then you can't hear from God and fill your spirit. If you are enjoying this life too much, you'll have nothing when you stand before God. Pleasing fallen men puts you in the company of charlatans. Lost souls have no capacity for eternal truths.
The Lord's true servants are marked by love in the face of hatred, patience in the face of abuse, and a lack of concern for worldly goods. His people have no trouble giving things away, even under the pretense of loaning them out. Love does not wait for the scales of justice to balance, but aggressively pursues the unlovely with mercy and grace. Love looks for ways to share where it's not possible to repay. Kingdom people stand on a higher ground, a place where sorrows and pains cannot reach, a place where the Spirit rules. They have so much in their hearts, they can't bear to leave anything in their pockets when there is a need as yet unmet. They treat earthly treasure as an impediment to freedom.
The Pharisees and lawyers were both spiritually dead and blind. They learned only from each other, never hearing from God, and never understanding anything God had revealed through Moses. Having embraced the mere writings of Moses, they had rejected the God of Moses. Yet, they pretended to be experts at what God required of men. They were wild tress, producing useless or poisonous fruit. Only when your soul is rooted in the Holy Spirit can you produce spiritual fruit pleasing to God. The process these men upheld meant nothing if the whole result of their lives was meanness, hatred, evil and sin.
Even those who make a show of following Jesus accomplish nothing if their lives remain mired in hatred and evil. What you call yourself won't matter if you don't live up to it. That's like a man who builds his palace in the soft sand of the wadis -- it's easy, but comes apart the first time it rains. People who struggle with the sin in their lives are like those who climb up on the rock -- it takes a lot longer and is much harder, but they won't change just because the weather does.
You can't call it Kingdom of Heaven if it's anchored in human lusts. It's known by what it does, how it affects people, not by lovely theories and logical consistency. Righteous standing before God was something the partisans and lawyers could not comprehend.
Return to Luke Index
[<-- Previous]
[Next -->]
By Ed Hurst
12 July 2008
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: People of honor need no copyright laws; they are only too happy to give credit where credit is due. Others will ignore copyright laws whenever they please. If you are of the latter, please note what Moses said about dishonorable behavior -- "be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)