11 Aug 2022
The heart of the law
There are Christians who apply the Bible forcefully without considering intent and context. But God reveals himself through the Bible and, as a consequence, our understanding of him ought to be used to apply his commandments.
I believe God gave us his commandments out of love, not hatred. Love does not make excuses for breaking the commandments, but love seeks to understand the root cause and to find a solution for the individual to move forward and find God's love.
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A man was there whose hand was withered. And they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful and permissible to heal on the Sabbath?” — they asked this so that they might accuse Him and bring charges into court.
But He said to them, “What man is there among you who, if he has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful and permissible to do good on the Sabbath.”
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(Matthew 12.10-12 AMP)
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Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” ...
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” ...
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
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(John 8.3-12 NKJV)
Do not hate people because of the Bible. Use the Bible to bring people to Jesus.