Scripture – Matthew 5:13-20 NRSVUE
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
From Rev. Heather Leffler
Reflecting on Jesus’ words as I prepared for worship this morning, I found myself pondering the law. Jesus tells us that we need to follow every letter of the commandments, not breaking them or tempting others to break them. At the same time, Jesus appears to challenge how the law is interpreted and lived as he heals people on the Sabbath and crosses the purity laws by eating with people the law considered unclean.
This tension can feel confusing. Is Jesus asking for stricter obedience, or something different altogether?
When we remember that Jesus sums up the law by naming its heart: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself,” I hear him inviting us to focus less on rigid rule-keeping and more on the Spirit of the law – the purpose for which the law was given. We put laws in place to ensure common ground at particular points in time, but often as contexts change, we see flaws in those laws. We recognize that they may unintentionally favour one group over another or have other shortcomings, and that they need to be changed.
Jesus does not abolish the law; he fulfills it, restoring its purpose – to guide people into faithful, life-giving relationship with God and one another.
Especially if we are the ones setting the rules for our churches or our families, I hear Jesus inviting us to test our rules against God’s love and faithfulness. When our rules, practices, and traditions no longer reflect that love – when they exclude, burden, or wound individuals or groups – we may need to adapt them or let them go. Always we are called to respond to others with love, respect, mercy, and forgiveness – not because rules demand it, but because this is how God responds to us.
May we live our lives faithful to God’s law of love, letting our lives reflect the light of Christ, for the sake of the world.
Contemplation and Conversation
When have you seen a law, rule, or practice change in a way
that made a community more just or loving?
Where do you sense God still calling for change —
so that love, mercy, and faithfulness are more fully lived out?
Prayer
Holy One, you gave us laws not to bind us, but to help us love you and each other.
Help us to live faithfully into your law of love,
and to discern with humility and courage where our laws need to change,
so that your grace may be known, your justice embodied,
and all people may be embraced in love. Amen..
If you missed Sunday’s worship service, visit our Rockwood Stone YouTube page.
