What other scriptures emphasize the importance of compassion over legalism? \The Challenge in John 5:10\ “So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘This is the Sabbath; it is unlawful for you to carry your mat.’” The miracle is undeniable, yet the leaders focus on a technical violation. Their response highlights how legalism can eclipse compassion when the heart behind God’s law is missed. \God’s Longstanding Priority – Mercy Over Ritual\ From the beginning, Scripture—accurate and literally true—puts compassion at the center. - Hosea 6:6 “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” - Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good… to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” - Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to break the chains of wickedness… to share your bread with the hungry… to clothe the naked…?” - Proverbs 21:3 “Doing righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” - Zechariah 7:9-10 “Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another…” \Jesus Models Compassion Above Legalism\ Every healing on the Sabbath underscores the same truth. - Matthew 9:13 “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” - Matthew 12:7 “If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” - Mark 2:27 “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” - Luke 6:9 “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” - Luke 13:15-16 “Should not this daughter of Abraham… be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” - Luke 14:3-4 Jesus heals the man with dropsy after the experts stay silent. - Luke 10:33-34 The Samaritan “was moved with compassion… and took care of him.” - Matthew 23:23 “You have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.” \The Apostolic Emphasis – Love Fulfills the Law\ The early church carried the same banner. - Galatians 5:14 “The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Romans 13:10 “Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” - James 2:13 “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” - 1 John 3:17-18 “Let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.” - Colossians 3:12-14 “Clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion… Put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.” \Living Out Compassionate Faith Today\ Because every verse is God-breathed and trustworthy, these passages invite believers to: - View God’s commands through the lens of His mercy. - Prioritize helping the hurting even when tradition might suggest otherwise. - Let love guide Sabbath observance, church life, and personal conduct. - Remember that rules reveal God’s holiness, while compassion reveals His heart. - Demonstrate faith tangibly—feeding, visiting, forgiving—so that doctrine and deed stand together. |
    |