There Is No “Easy” Way Out

16 Feb

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.”  (Mt 5:17-18)

“Aw.  Come on!”

“Is this guy for real?!”

“Are you sure you heard him right?!”

The reaction to Jesus’ teaching would be “mixed” at best, “poor” at worst.

It seems, the vast majority of the people did not want to hear what the Lord had to say.

No.

What they wanted to hear was that their work was over, that everything in the future would be “easy street” kind of stuff.

After all, they had “the” teacher in their midst.  Jesus could cure the sick and raise the dead.  Surely He could also dispense them from all the obligations that they had been taught from of old.

Not so fast.

Jesus indicated that He came not to abolish but to fulfill.

That meant that all that they had been required to do would still be required of them.

What changed, more than anything else, was the prism through which they would view their requirements.  They would be asked to shoulder their burdens willingly rather than grudgingly.  They would be asked to do more, not less.

As we are today.

FAITH ACTION:  What requirements of the faith bug you?  What do you wish would not be asked of you?  Ask God to give you the grace to embrace His laws willingly and cheerfully.