Law and Order?
AM Psalm 87, 90 • PM Psalm 136
Num. 13:31-14:25 • Rom. 3:9-20 • Matt. 19:1-12
This verse from our reading in Romans is sitting with me: “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”
My work includes clarifying the law dedicated to early childhood centers in Arkansas. There is a manual for early childhood centers that outlines many rules for operating a safe, healthy space for caring for children. It includes required paperwork, health and safety regulations, environmental needs, and behavior guidance. The behavior guidance section includes a lengthy list of things providers may not do. When I discuss this section, I ask, “Why is this section in here?” The correct answer is, “Because those things have happened.” Essentially, the list is a mirror reflecting past wrongs. The manual is the “law” for early childhood centers, not simply a guideline. I am often amazed that the list exists, but people make decisions based on their own backgrounds, experiences, and understandings. Sometimes we need clear language of “do” and “don’t.”
Laws often become tangled in interpretation, self-interest, fear, and power. This is evident in our Gospel reading, where the Pharisees approach Jesus not as seekers but as testers. Their question about divorce was less about compassion and more about certainty, driven by a desire for a definitive answer they could use to defend this rule. The passage reveals an ancient struggle that persists today: the wrestling between law and truth, between what has been written and what reflects the living character of God. Jesus does not dismiss the law but challenges them. He reminds them that truth is not merely technical correctness but also restoration and wholeness.
We all long for certainty and clear boundaries between right and wrong. But laws can harden when separated from mercy, justice, and love. I think the deeper invitation is to examine our own hearts, because our backgrounds and experiences can lead us to make decisions that may not always be right or just. I have to wonder: are laws simply a mirror of past wrongs, or do they reveal how sinful we are?
Written by Susie Norys
Currently enjoying this season of grandparenting and praying for a loving world that will care for all of God’s creation.