Wash Your Hands!

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 

                                                                              (Mark 7:1-9 KJV)

My hands have gotten a little wrinkled with all the washing that's been going on the past year and a half. Part of that probably has something to do with age. The Pharisees really came down hard on the disciples for not keeping the law by not washing their hands before they ate. So, what did Jesus say? He rebuked them for being so oriented toward keeping the traditions of the elders. You see those Pharisees, just as many today, would attack anyone who did not obey the laws of God as they chose to interpret it. They did not comprehend that the letter of the law can too easily destroy people. They did not comprehend that the Spirit of the law is love. Jesus said this about the greatest commandments; the greatest laws:

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

                                                                                         (Matt 22:37-40)

Yes, it is definitely a good thing to observe health codes. It can even be a loving thing. But, it is not a loving thing to judge those for whatever reason neglect or forget to. Judging others whether they follow man-made traditions regarding washing their hands or not (or wear a mask or not) hardly seems the loving thing to do. In fact, it can be a most unloving thing to do especially when it involves cursing at the person we  are busy judging.

The letter of the law and the man-made traditions that we impose can destroy people, even societies as it brings division. The Spirit of the law unites because the Spirit of the law is love.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Let Your Light Shine!

 

 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

                                                                                     (Matt 5:14-16 KJV)

There are times when people will indeed hide their lit man-made lamps. When I was a teenager, I loved to read. But, my parents were just a little strict or maybe it was that they liked their evenings to be quiet and to themselves. Whatever the reason, I was to be in bed with lights out by 8 p.m.. My remedy to the situation was to move the lamp to the closet and sit on a box and read 'till sometimes past 10 o'clock! 

During World War II, England had "black outs." Lights were turned out or at least dimmed in order to make it more difficult for the enemy to find their targets by air or sea. Windows had to be covered to prevent any light from within the homes escaping into the streets.

Man-made lights may be dimmed and even turned off. They eventually burn out. But, the light of Christ that abides within us will never be extinguished. ..."let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:16 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J