Love Versus Law?

September 30, 2018

Love Versus Law?

Text: Matthew 22:34-46

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

There is much confusion in the North American Church these days over the mission and purpose of the church. What is the church about? What is the message of the church? What are we Christians called to be and do?

Now, there are some in the more liberal sectors of the North American Church that would answer this by saying that our calling is to love. Yes, they would say that we are to love, not hate. When asked what this love looks like, the response is that love is inclusive, not judge-y, and is typically expressed with vibrant colors, hugs, and warm smiles of acceptance. Through love, they say, everyone is accepted and the church is fulfilling her mission.

On the other side of the coin, the more conservative sectors of the North American Church would answer this question by saying that our calling is to be a prophetic voice to the culture in adhering to God’s law. Yes, they would say that we are to uphold the law, not water it down. When asked what this law looks like, the response is that the law is exclusive, judges, and is typically expressed with the stone tablets of Moses, a shaking finger, and faces of scrutiny. Through the law, they say, everyone knows how to act and by this, the church is fulfilling her mission.

What is happening here in our two examples?

Well, simply stated, one side has subscribed to love as the main message and purpose of the church. And the other side has subscribed to the law as the main message and purpose of the church. And like most competitions, these two sides live in tension in the North American Church. The pendulum goes back and forth as each side fights for its view. Like soldiers in bunkers, these two sides launch grenades at each other saying,

“The church is about love you legalistic nitpicks!”

And the other side responds,

“No, you are wrong, the church is about the law, you lawless sweet peas.”

And so, those of the more liberal side will accuse the so-called legalistic nitpicks of not loving – that the law prevents the church from loving people. And those on the more conservative side will accuse the so-called lawless sweet peas of disregarding the law – that too much love waters down the law.

What is going on here? Who is right; who is wrong? The answer, they both are. They are both right, and they are both wrong.

Consider our reading from the Gospel of Matthew this morning. Jesus is asked a very specific question. And that question is, “Which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Now, take note that Jesus is asked about ‘the law.’ And how does He answer? He answers that the greatest commandment is to ‘love’ the Lord God with all our heats, souls and mind; and to ‘love’ our neighbors as ourselves.

With this answer, we might be thinking that Jesus denies the law. He is asked about the law, and He answers by talking about love. But is He putting love overtop of the law? Is He giving predominance to love?

Dear friends, Jesus answered a question about the commandment by talking about love, not because love trumps the law, but rather, the commandments and love are inseparable. They are not polar opposites as many people believe. They are not opposed or against each other, as so many Christian attempt to do in our culture and churches. We don’t have to choose love over the law or the law over love.

It is like this, real love will never disagree with God’s Commandments, and the real Commandments of God will never obstruct love. What this means is this: if you hear God’s law from the Bible and think that it is not loving, then you do not understand love but have most likely given way to a pagan view of tolerance, just like that New Testament church Thyatira did. And if you uphold the law but do not have love, you are just like that New Testament Church in Ephesus that abandoned the love they first had – they grew cold.

Dear friends, true love is expressed when we keep the Commandments of God towards our neighbor and God’s law is fulfilled when our neighbor is properly loved.

The Apostle Paul hits on this in 1 Corinthians the thirteenth chapter as well. Simply stated, if we do all sorts of good and great honorable, righteous things but do not have love, we are nothing. On the other hand, if we have all sorts of love while forsaking truth, we are not loving.

So, dear friends, if your inclusive, nonjudgmental love, with its hugs and warm smiles, rejects and denies God’s law, repent! Yes, repent of denying God’s law. If you have divorced the law from love, you are no better than the so-called legalistic nitpicks that you despise,

And dear friends, if you are holding to the law with white fists of vengeance, shaking your finger in disgust to everyone around you without love, repent! Yes, repent of abandoning and forgetting God’s love. If you have forgotten love, you are no better than the so-called lawless sweet peas that you despise.

It seems as we consider both sides of the argument, that both sides are more similar than different. Sure, the one side clings to love and denies the law and the other side clings to the law and forgets love; however, both sides are guilty of not fulfilling the law of love. Both sides need to repent, which means that all of us are sinners in need of grace.

You see, Jesus calls everyone to fulfill the 10 Commandments by loving God and neighbor perfectly. What this looks like is that we are to love the Lord God above all things (i.e., First Commandment). We are called to love the proper teaching about the Lord with accurate doctrine (i.e., Second Commandment). We are called to love the Sabbath and God’s Word (i.e., Third Commandment). We are called to love and respect those in authority like parents and governing officials (i.e., Fourth Commandment). We are called to love life, especially preserving those who are weak and insignificant (i.e., Fifth Commandment). We are called to love marriage by protecting it from pornography, divorce, and adultery (i.e., Sixth Commandment). We are called to love our neighbor’s possessions and reputation by defending our neighbor in whatever ways possible (i.e., Seventh and Eighth Commandments). And we are called to love our neighbors by not scheming to get things away from them but living in the contentment that the Lord gives (i.e., Ninth and Tenth Commandments).

To the point: keep the commandments perfectly; love perfectly. Do not forsake the law; do not abandon love. This is the greatest commandment. This is what we are called to think, say, and do.

But you may say, I do not do that. I do not love. I do not uphold the law. What should I do since I do not love and follow the law as I ought to?

This is where the second part of the Gospel lesson of Matthew comes into today’s sermon. You see, the first question posed to Jesus was about the law. And through the law, every mouth is silenced. However, the second question posed to Jesus was about Himself – who He was and is. And when we are talking about Jesus, we must talk about the Gospel.

Dear friends, the law does not know how to counsel you, but only orders and commands – love your God, love your neighbor, fulfill the commandments! But because you are unable to keep the law and because it is impossible for you to love perfectly, Christ came and stepped between the Father and you. And in Jesus, you and I see one who not only loved perfectly but did so by fulfilling the law perfectly. He did this for our welfare so that we may partake in Jesus’ fulfillment of the law and love, and thereby come to grace.

And so, in Jesus, you and I have the fulfillment of the law. In Jesus, we have perfect love. And so, we rejoice in the law and rejoice in love, knowing that we are neither a legalistic nitpicks nor lawless sweet peas, but Christians. Yes, we are forgiven Christians who by the Holy Spirit are given hearts to love and desires to do God’s commandments. And when we fail to love or when we deny the law, we know in repentance and faith that Christ Jesus not only lovingly forgives, but fulfills that which we cannot think, say, or do.

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Love Versus Law?