“Love Over the Law” – Matt 22:34-46 – October 26, 2008

Every now and then I receive a letter from a credit card company that explains all the rules that apply to a particular credit card. The document is usually 3-4 pages long in very small print. The language is legalistic, therefore difficult to comprehend. I routinely throw them away and simply remind myself to pay my bill on time thus avoiding penalties and late charges.

We live in a world that overwhelms us with rules. Few people understand the tax code. When you make a major purchase, like a car or home, you end up signing documents that are filled with fine print. Your salesperson will say, “Don’t worry, it’s just another government form that is required. All that matters is your monthly payment.”

We’ve all experienced those “red tape” moments and we go away, feeling numb, wondering if we have done the right thing. In these times finances are on everyone’s mind and we don’t like surprise expenses.

Jewish law contained over 600 rules to live by and all of them were considered equal. When the lawyer asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest he was testing him. It was an attempt to draw Jesus into a debate where he would make some statement that would make a particular rule invalid or of little significance. In other words, it was like handing Jesus one of those credit card letters full of fine print and forcing him to interpret all the rules correctly.

Jesus knew he was being set up, but he was also knowledgeable of the Torah. In Deuteronomy 6:4-5 the command to love God is part of the Shema, which begins with the confession of the oneness of God. So Jesus responded to lawyer by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The lawyer did not respond. Jesus had answered in such a way that there was nothing he could say to dispute what Jesus had said. Forget all the fine print and red tape, if you understand these two and commit your life to them you can manage.

Loving God and loving neighbor are inseparable. To love God is to love one’s neighbor and to love one’s neighbor is to love God. This was illustrated when Jesus was asked by another lawyer what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded with the same two commandments and followed up is response with the parable of the Good Samaritan.

It’s not about following rules, abiding by all the commandments, it’s about love. Love is over the law. Love requires commitment and action. For me, love also happens when we are able to break away from tradition or go against the status quo. Traditions can become legalistic and to change them or break away from them is difficult because we see everything black and white. First, love happens when we are compassionate and willing and come to the aid of others.

One time an old man stood on a Virginia riverbank many years ago. He was waiting to cross the river and, since it was bitterly cold and there were no bridges, he would have to “catch a ride” to the other side. After a lengthy wait he spotted a group of horsemen approaching. He let the first one pass, then the second, third, fourth and fifth. One rider remained. As he drew abreast, the old man looked him in the eye and said, “Sir, would you give me a ride across the river?”

The rider immediately replied, “Certainly.” Once across the river, the old man slid to the ground. “Sir,” the rider said before leaving. “I could not help but notice that you permitted all the other men to pass without asking for a ride. Then, when I drew abreast, you immediately asked me to carry you across. I am curious as to why you didn’t ask them and you did ask me.” The old man quietly responded, “I looked into their eyes and could see no love and knew in my own heart it would be useless to ask for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, I saw compassion, love and the willingness to help. I knew you would be glad to give me a ride across the river.”

The rider was touched. “I’m grateful for what you are saying,” he said. “I appreciate it very much.” With that, Thomas Jefferson turned and rode off to the White House.

When we love others in the way that Thomas Jefferson cared for the old man on the riverbank we are people of compassion. There is a willingness to help that comes from the heart. It is a willingness that responds without prejudice or ulterior motive.

Secondly, we have to overcome the barriers that keep us from loving others. One barrier is self-interest. We don’t like to be at a disadvantage. We want life to be fair. We have a need to protect ourselves. Another barrier is inconvenience. We don’t like to go out of our way or change our routines. We resist leaving our culture or going outside of our traditions because they make us feel secure. We are also afraid that if we help someone we will be obligated to help them in the future.

To overcome these boundaries we have to trust that the love we give to others will make a difference. We can’t control what others do. We can only give our love without any conditions. According to Jesus, love is over the law. That means we may have to cut through some red tape or even bend some rules in order to extend our love to someone. Or, we just might have to go against what is popular.

When Abraham Lincoln was campaigning for the presidency, one of his archenemies was Edwin McMasters Stanton. Stanton hated Lincoln and used every ounce of his energy to degrade Lincoln in the eyes of the public. In the process of choosing his cabinet after the election, Lincoln selected Stanton to be his Secretary of War. His inner circle was appalled. Many of his advisors told Lincoln he was making a big mistake. Lincoln replied, “Yes, I know Mr. Stanton said some hateful things about me, but I believe he is the best man for the job.” As Secretary of War, Stanton gave invaluable service to his nation and president Lincoln. After Lincoln was assassinated, Stanton spoke on his behalf and he called Lincoln one of the greatest men who ever lived. He is famous for saying, “He now belongs to the ages.”

During this presidential campaign we have witnessed an excessive amount of mud slinging. The candidates are spending more time casting stones rather than tell us why they would make a good president. There certainly seems to be a lack of love. I believe that a campaign is nothing less than a sample of the way life is in our society. We don’t want to admit it, but we do the same thing. We don’t give our love because so-in-so doesn’t deserve it. People hold grudges and don’t forgive. Some blame everyone else but themselves for the things that go wrong. Still others think only of themselves and do whatever they have to do to succeed.

When will we ever learn that love is the only way? Real love doesn’t seek revenge. Real love doesn’t hold back. When real love is given we experience joy and we take ownership of the two commandments which Jesus said were the greatest.

One day, a boy at summer camp received a box of cookies from his mother. He ate a few and placed them under his bed. The next day he discovered the cookies were gone. Later, a counselor who was aware of the theft, observed a boy sitting behind a tree eating the stolen cookies. The counselor had an idea. He told the boy whose cookies were stolen that he knew who the thief was. Naturally, he wanted him to be punished. But, the counselor had a different idea. He told him to ask his mother to send him another box of cookies and a few days later another box of cookies arrived. The counselor then told him that the boy who stole his cookies was down by the lake sitting on the dock. He suggested that he go down there and share his cookies with him. At first the boy protested but the counselor told him to trust him and see what happens. An hour later, the counselor saw the two boys coming up the hill from the lake. The thief was earnestly trying to give his new friend his compass in payment for the stolen cookies. The boy with the cookies adamantly refused saying, “Aw, a few cookies don’t matter all that much.”

What a different world this would be if we all would love others in that way. God’s love forgives. God’s love is compassionate and willing. God’s love happens when we put our self-interest aside and trust that God is in charge and cares for everyone. God’s love is love over the law because we are willing to go against the status quo and dare to be different

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio