least in the kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys them, and teaches others to do the same, will be great
in the kingdom of heaven.
Reflection:
The freedom and ease that Jesus demonstrated in front of the
law of the ancestors does not mean negation of their values or diminishment
of their importance. He wants to unleash the full force of the laws that is
geared towards the good of humanity. Thus His critique had it wrong all
along. When He defended His disciples for not fasting, or washing their hands
when they eat, or when they harvest grain and eat them during the day
of Sabbath, He was not depreciating the value of the law. He enhanced its
understanding by pointing out the liberating and joyful following of the law
not based on narrow and strict implementation of its letters. Thus He did not
come to abolish but to fulfill the law. It is a fulfillment based on a proper
understanding of the role of the law in enhancing the lives of believers.
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