Jesus puts a key question to the Pharisees and to all of us in today’s Gospel: “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Some Pharisees have a rather strict interpretation of the Sabbath Law. Some are arguing that the prohibition of work on the Sabbath even includes the “work” of healing on the Sabbath. Jesus calls them and us to use common sense. We know that God is a God of love and compassion and not a God who gives us hard and senseless laws to put us to the test. Jesus teaches us that God’s desire and God’s will and Law is that we do “good” even if it involves “work” on the Sabbath. The man Jesus heals has a “withered hand.” So, it is not a question of life or death. Jesus teaches that doing good and showing mercy and compassion is more important than following the strict dictates of the Law. Jesus challenges a legalism that puts the letter of the law above the command to love our neighbor and even our enemy.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43-45).
Jesus’ teaching also challenges us today. The Laws of church and state are important for the good order of church and state. Jesus teaches that our fulfillment and application of these laws must always be guided by doing good and showing love and compassion. Jesus teaches that we will not be judged on how well we fulfilled the letter of the Law but what we did to the least of God’s children, the poor, the hungry, the immigrant, the outcast of our society:
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:35-40).
What is lawful? What does God demand? The prophet Micah anticipates the clear teaching of Jesus: “You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Image: “Jesus Healing the Blind” by Church of Britain is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.