Breaking the Rules

1 Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 13 You shall not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:1-4,7-8,12-17)

The Ten Commandments are generally thought of as God's rules for God's people to live by. Much like us, the Israelites were adept at going as far as possible without "technically" breaking the rules. They even had an assortment of sacrifices to perform when they failed - continually attempting to color inside the lines only to keep God from being angry. Then, as now, this way of thinking created a shallow faithfulness that keeps (or not) the letter of the law while ignoring its heart and true purpose.

Jesus invites us to encounter God's heart and approach God's law with covenant mentality. Rather than memorizing a list of "Do's and Don'ts", we might proclaim that we will hold nothing more sacred, holy, and revered than God (verses 1-11), and that we will love those with whom we share this world - and the world itself - by prioritizing their wholeness and well-being (verses 12-17). Loving God and neighbor are no less challenging than following specific rules - it may be more so - but this shift allows us to see anew the beauty of community that God desires us to embody.

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

(Matthew 22:36-40)