The Pharisees, Law and Grace - Abbe Womble

Well, I must admit the subject of the Pharisees always makes me uncomfortable.  Unfortunately, I can often see “their side” of the story and find myself making excuses for them.  I honestly, HATE, the parable of the prodigal son.  I am a first born, I feel his pain, why couldn’t the father just say “glad you are back go help your big brother?”  However, I am always grateful for the reminder that there are so many things in our world that are not black and white, and are not about me.  I think that we tend to think that we, in today’s society, have the market cornered on learning how to deal with issues that fall in “gray areas,” but in reality Jesus is telling the Pharisees that life is in the gray areas and they need to learn to find a balance. 

The Pharisees are not all wrong, there are many rules we all must follow.  The Bible is explicit that there is only one way to the Father, this is a rule we cannot get around.  As parents we teach our kids rules for their safety, I feel that God the Father created many rules for our safety.  There are other rules we create to help keep our family healthy and our lives running smoothly, and I feel we learned this from God doing the same.  So, it is not following rules that causes the Pharisees need a little redirection.  In my opinion, the Pharisees are in error when they allow the rules themselves to become the ruler.  We have to maintain perspective of what the rules are created for and the bigger purpose behind them.  Also, as people who are “good” at following the rules we need to not get prideful and think that we are better than everyone else.  The one and only way to the father fails to mention having been the best type A Christian around.

So, at this point I start to feel a little guilty thinking I definitely have a lot to work on, since my fabulous rule following will not get me to heaven.  Thank goodness for grace.  Luke reminds us that Jesus was there for all sinners, and that includes me.  The one way to the Father is through HIM.  No one is outside the scope of that grace.  Some days, I will admit that is hard for me as I think how deserving I am.  Other days it is hard because I am overwhelmed by how undeserving I am, and how much forgiveness I don’t deserve.  Luke gives examples of all kinds of people who received God’s grace and forgiveness to remind us we can all have it!  I really appreciated that the “sinful woman” in Luke 7 was forgiven much, because she loved much.  I am going to strive to be a woman who loves much and I challenge you to do the same. 

One final thought, the Pharisees were wrong but, not all wrong.  Rules are not all made to be broken, contrary to cool kid, non first born belief.  Many rules need to be challenged and reevaluated so that we can continue to grow and change.  However, to disregard all rules would lead to chaos.  It is just as wrong to swing to the opposite extreme and allow anything.  My favorite part of my least favorite parable is that the Prodigal son does tell his father how sorry he is and how miserable his life of lawlessness was.  He was wrong and he did have to eat pig slop.  So, let’s find a middle ground.  My sister doesn’t want to eat pig slop, and I don’t want to be a Pharisee.  Let’s evaluate why we do the things that we do and the spirit in which they are done.  Truly following the Lord and seeking His will leads us to a middle ground we can agree on with guidelines to make our lives better.  And no matter what we get the gift of grace, hallelujah!