23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! (Matthew 23)
Rules, Rules, Rules. Beware when you start piling up rules. When a society starts piling up laws, it is a sign that there are deep issues leading to misbehavior. Jesus' reactions to the Pharisees and others like the rich ruler point to the fact that minimal rules are necessary when the heart is right: Love God and others. Focues on responsibilities and not right. Seek justice for others and let God be your protector. Nobody wants a fly in their soup, but living by laws of self-righteousness is like gagging on a camel hump - tough and dry and choking the life out of you. God gives us His laws to protect us and guide us to His character: merciful, just, faithful and true - not to ruin our fun or give us a weapon to make others miserable. The Pharisees broke God's heart because not only did they break the important laws of God, they totally misrepresented them to the people they were to lead. Let us not do the same.
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