Discussion Topic #29: The Letter of the Law vs the Spirit of the Law

I think I weigh that every time, and frequently find myself making allowances for my children. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. It just ... is.

Carla------

I think a lot of what you are asking hinges on what Jesus told the Pharisees in Luke 11:42:

"But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." KJV

I think Matthew 23:23 says it even better:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

This entire subject is one that has troubled me and confused me for a long time. We are taught that we are saved by Grace, yet the emphasis always seems to be on pleasing God and maintaining our salvation through works and obeying "the Law." Most people believe "the Law" is nothing more than a strict list of rules and regulations that God demands us to obey---no if, no ands, no buts, no gray areas---Otherwise, we get on God's "bad side" and He becomes angry with us and punishes us.
But we must fully understand and appreciate why "the Law" was given to us by God in the first place. I don't believe that God gave us "the Law" as a "Do-This-Or-Else" kind of a thing. I believe "the Law" was given to us for the same reasons that we tell our children to look both ways before crossing the street or to not play with fire.
Everything that God does for us is good and ultimately for our benefit. I believe, if He tells us not to steal, or to murder, or to commit adultery, it is primarily to save us the grief and negative repercussions that may ultimately result from engaging in those activities.
When, as Christians, we apply "the Law" and our rigid attitude about it towards other people, things like mercy, love and understanding inevitably get squeezed out and everything is seen as either black or white. Such as, if they are obeying "the Law" they are right and if they are not obeying it, they are wrong. And, if they are wrong, then they are "sinners". And if they are "sinners," then they are bad people who we end up seeing as being less than ourselves (based on the fact that we strive to obey "the Law"). In this instance, "the Law" becomes a separator of people instead of a common denominator that unites them together.
It is related to the idea that Christ presents in Mark 2:27, about the Sabbath being made for man, not man for the Sabbath. I believe the same can be said about "the Law." God did not create us for the exclusive obedience to "the Law". It is "the Law" that was created exclusively for us. We are not here for its sake, it is here for ours. And this is a crucial aspect of "the Law" that I feel most people completely miss.

I tend to view the letter as a short-cut meant to help us understand and obey the spirit.

I think both are important. Some laws are more important by obeying the letter but some some laws you need to look at the spirit of the laws. Murder is one that the letter is important. But some, like theft, you need to look at the spirit. If someone is starving, they might steal some bread. Is that the same thing as a bank robber.

Or did I misunderstand the question? Does this question only apply to scriptural matters? If so, I apologize. Anyway, this is only my opinion. namaste

I once belonged to a church which was extremely legalistic in regard to the Sabbath. It got to the point I felt like the most horrible person on the way to church if I had to stop and gas my car up...(after all, shouldn't I have thought of doing that before the Sabbath?) Children were told they should only play with certain things on the Sabbath. It got to the point I felt like I was being weighed and measured every week when I went to church. One time I slipped and let it be known I would be going to take a swim on Sabbath afternoon. The room turned silent as if I was going to commit murder. There were people going to that church who were so convicted of the Sabbath they would turn down jobs that would feed their family because it required working on the Sabbath. While I admired their conviction, I had to wonder if this was really God's plan. Does He not want us to take care of our families?

Is this how he wants us to view the Sabbath? In my estimation ... no. I see God as so much bigger than this. I see a God of love and mercy, and I think the last thing He wants us to be focusing on are things like this. I am no longer a member of that church, but I do respect the ones that continue on there. They are very much convicted and there is something to be said in that.

Great comments, folks! I, too, have seen how the letter of the law has been adhered to at the expense of the spirit of the law. I believe that the most important teachings of Jesus were those about love and forgiveness. He made the point that it is not what goes into our mouths that is important but what comes out of it. The Jews had many laws, many of which were about staying healthy during a time when there was much disease, but the important teachings of any religion should be about how we treat others.

Carla, good dialog. I think we too much count on laws (all laws, civil and religious) with an eye to the TWO options. Evil or Good, Black and White, Right and Wrong. There are times when a "wrong" is overwhelmed by a need.

I have asked the question, would I steal if my children were starving? No, I'd get another job. If that were still not enough to feed the three, then, yes, I guess I would steal.
Would I kill if my child was hurt. No, I'd try to trust in the law to handle it. BUT, would I kill to save my child? Yes. (Sorry, but yes, I would.)

I had to face that question in my 40s. A kid (probably drug problem, according to the cops) was trying to break into our house, and over a period of about 3 weeks. My 3 were snug in their beds, and I didn't sleep at night, on patrol...LOL! I sat on the piano bench and cried when I realized I'd be willing to do that level of harm to keep my children safe.

This is one of the reasons that I never understood the study on Abraham, willing to sacrifice his own child. Nope. Just can't buy it.

Still thinking about this...it's going to bug me all day! LOL!
Thanks for the connundrum. You never fail to stimulate thought.

Blessings on you and yours
Wilka

Carla, another great question in an article ! I believe that I have pretty much made myself clear in the past that I have this preference for the base essence of things, that which is ultimately decided personally on the intuitive level considering ALL factors involved at the moment of decision.

I really think that you have gotten some wonderful comments here so far and I especially like BERF's from the "religious" perspective.

Although I can't think of a specific situation right now, I think in many instances the spirit of the law is more important than the letter

Great article and comments, thanks, Carla.

Good comments. It seems as though the majority of people responding follow "law" but will step outside it if they feel its warranted.

We need to turn that idea on its head. A "law" is only valid if it can be applied in accordance with the principle on which all rules are to be based. - the Golden Rule. In a Christian context, that's what Jesus is written to have said.

If a "law" would lead us to an action outside of the relationship of "agapé" and the guidance of "Do Unto Others", then that law is either misunderstood or has outlived its usefulness.

The "letter" of the law is irrelevent, always. It is only of value if it helps us to realize the spirit

Came back to read the comments.

Yes, David, the law was made for man, not man for the law. Sometimes that is forgotten. The "Golden Rule" is the most important and the least adhered to it seems. If people would live their lives according to that then there would be no need for many other laws.

I have to agree with Carla. In this world, it is important (legally) to abide by the law. However, in our personal life it is far more important to follow your heart and the Golden Rule, which is based upon spiritual laws.

To Christians, the Spirit of the Law must be more important than the Letter of the Law. That was part of the reason Christ came. He came to dispel the hypocritical notions of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and replace that ill fated obedience with the two greatest commandments that are the Spririt of the Law.