Several Sayings of Jesus

77. Several Sayings of Jesus

The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tittle of the law to fall.

Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.

This hearkens back to Jesus’ earlier saying: the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Do not be a slave to custom and tradition. Choose to do what you do because it is the right thing for life. If the custom no longer serves a useful purpose, be free enough to leave it and move on.

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Jesus seems to be saying that in the religious life, there is no middle ground. We are either aligned with God’s will, or we are not. Those who are aligned are serving the same power or purpose as Jesus. Those who are not aligned are serving some other power or purpose.

This is not an example of religious intolerance; it is simply stating the obvious. This may be more clear if we put it another way: We are either complying with the laws of reality, or we are rebelling against them. There are really no other choices.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

Who were the false prophets Jesus was referring to? The scribes and Pharisees – those who professed to teach the path to God, but who in actuality preached irrational adherence to outdated rules and customs that, rather than serving the God’s will, served only their own egocentric drive for power, prestige and wealth.