Today the Pharisees once again were watching Jesus. They noticed that Jesus’ disciples did not observe required “ritual cleansing.” Some of Jesus’ disciples actually had the audacity not to wash their hands before eating. This gave the Pharisees the perfect opportunity to criticize Jesus and His disciples since they were not honouring the Jewish ritual customs.

In response to their reprimand, Jesus quotes a passage from Isaiah. Jesus confronts them by saying that although they honour God with their lips and words, their hearts are not in union with God. Jesus is disgusted with the Pharisees because the law had become their god. For most of them, the letter of the law seemed to supersede the law of God’s love. For the Pharisees, the law was everything. Compared to the law, the people were insignificant.

At times in our lives, it may be difficult to decide what is best: to do as the law requires or to do what seems to be truly loving. For Jesus, love far outweighs the law. Jesus is not saying that the law is not important. It is. However, the law of love should reign in our lives! Will this law of love reign in our hearts today?

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