And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

                                                                                                                     Mark 7:6-8 

If there is one thing I learn from scripture, it is that I do not want to be like the Pharisees. Some of the harshest words that Jesus ever spoke were aimed at these religious men. When it came to sinners (i.e. prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, thieves, and the like), Jesus offered compassion, mercy, and healing. We have to make a decision in our spiritual lives; whether our Christian experience will be one of tradition, ritual, and legalism or one of love, kindness, and mercy. The Bible leaves us no room to choose anything but the latter.

The problem with the Pharisees is that they had so steeped themselves in religious rules and regulations, that they lost the purpose behind the Law. They took what God intended for us and added their own regulations, namely “the traditions of men.” They even taught these regulations as doctrines rather than instruct people how to love. They were arrogant, legalistic, and judgmental. The very God that they claimed to serve appeared in front of them, in the flesh, and they didn’t even recognize Him. But this is not about beating up on the Pharisees rather this is an opportunity for us to learn from their mistakes and embrace the fullness of the gospel given to us through Christ.

First, we need to understand the all of the Law is summed up in how we treat others. Consider the words of Jesus:

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

                                                                                                                   Matthew 7:12

Imagine if everyone would be obedient to this one principle. In everything we do, we would treat others properly, the way we would like people to treat us. In our victories and our failures, always the same, consistent love and support. Even in correction too, but always with a kind and gentle demeanor. Jesus says that this one principle is the Law. The Pharisees thought the Law was rules and regulations and therefore judged and mistreated people who did not follow “their” rules, namely the disciples. But the purpose of the Law is discovered in the treatment of others. Consider the words of Paul:

For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

                                                                                                            Romans 13:9-10 

Paul sums up all of the commandments in the phrase, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He goes on to tell us that love is the fulfillment of the Law. So Jesus sums up the Law with a principle on how to treat others and Paul writes that all of the commandments can be summed up in the same. That would make the Christian life a life of service to others. Paul tells us that we must consider others as more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4). I believe that this was, in part, what Jesus meant when He said that whoever seeks to follow Him must deny themselves (Luke 9:23).

Notice that in today’s passage, Jesus accuses the Pharisees of neglecting the commandment (singular) of God. I believe that this is significant. Consider the words of Jesus to His disciples echoing the same:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

                                                                                                                   John 13:34-35

Under the new covenant, Jesus gives us a new commandment, to love one another. He links obedience to this one commandment to the world’s recognition of our authenticity as followers of Jesus. This further undergirds the concept of summing up the whole Law in the treatment of others. When believers act in an arrogant, legalistic, and judgmental way, not only is the world driven away from the cross of Jesus, but also they will not recognize us as followers of Christ. John also mentions the commandment (singular) of God:

This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

                                                                                                                   1 John 3:23

Believing (trusting) in Jesus and loving others, that’s how simple life should be. Unfortunately, we often cloud the obvious, simple message of the gospel with statutes, rules, regulations, and rituals that look good on the outside but don’t serve the purpose of the Law or the gospel message. In short, I believe it would serve all of us to make an intentional effort to look less like the Pharisees and more like Jesus. Then the world will know that we truly belong to Him!