You don’t have to tell me, I know there are many directions I can go with this topic in the climate we’re living in right now. However, I watched the movie “Straw” the other day—the new Tyler Perry movie. As a single mother myself, I was in tears much of the film, feeling great compassion for the struggle and having many of the same issues “Janiyah” had. It hit in a totally different way for me, having raised children as a single parent for over a decade.
If I am to be humble, honest, and transparent with you, I agreed with the cashier, “Tessa!” I was the Pharisaical one in the entire situation. Even as a single mother in dire straits at times, I never resorted to crime; we do have a choice, so in my mind, wrong is wrong. No matter how much she said she wasn’t robbing that bank, she had a gun and she wasn’t allowing people to leave, it was a bank robbery in my definition, and justice should have been served in that regard. Nobody should have been outside saying, “Free her” when she shot a person to death in cold blood, and carried a gun into the bank and pulled it out and showed it to a bank teller. Sure, she was mentally deranged because of the loss of her daughter, but in my mind, I wondered how many others would this movie license to do such things out of grief. I wasn’t in agreement with the way it was handled.. because my “legalistic” side showed up.
Isn’t it a wonder that today’s question aligns with the current situations in our society, which connect closely to a mindset of legalism vs. compassion? We see it all around us and certainly can’t ignore it. In these texts, we can see how Jesus responded in this particular situation. Jesus constantly asked, “Is it lawful to do good or evil… ” on any day of the week. This was an affront to the heart of the Pharisaical leaders. They were willing to pull a sheep out of a ditch, and they were also willing to circumcise a baby on the Sabbath, but they were against seeing a sick person made well because it was a particular day of the week. “Sometimes mercy is the best medicine!”
Let’s always remember this key point: Jesus’ ministry is rooted in the heart of God, “the spirit of the law,” not the letters thereof. He didn’t want habitual obedience; He wanted hearts that were compassionate toward others in need, and that’s where the conflict arose. We’re challenged to value people over policies, and we must be willing to interrupt routines to respond to the needs of other human beings made in the image of God! Paul’s epistles remind us that love fulfills the law and that if we say we have faith, we must somehow outwardly show it through the things we do every day. Jesus’ kingdom will always call us to action rooted in compassion and wisdom, not mere compliance. God desires mercy not sacrifice, knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
This healing exposed the hearts of those around him. While Jesus’ action drew anger from those obsessed with the law, for the man with the withered hand, it was liberation, both spiritually and physically. The Pharisees started questioning Jesus earlier that day about why He allowed His disciples to walk through grainfields picking corn on the Sabbath. It was Sabbath conflicts they were worried about, but it was helping others that Jesus seemed most concerned about. Indeed, the man with the withered hand didn’t have to have his hand healed that day, nor would the disciples have starved if they skipped that meal. This is the compassionate and merciful God we serve, showing us His true heart for all people at all times.
Here are some questions for consideration:
Have you held a mirror to your heart to see if you’d choose good even when it costs approval?
Considering coming out of our comfort zones can be hard, how can you look for someone around you who needs compassion, help, or healing this week, so that you can do good even when it’s inconvenient?
Am I more concerned with being right than living righteously?
Scripture references:
Matthew 12:11-12; Mark 3:4; Luke 6:9
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