守法律有錯嗎？當然沒有錯。
我們的師傅是體諒的。他明白僵化地遵守法律的人，思想容易變得狹窄，把自己困在一個漸漸縮小的銅牆鐵壁之內，身心疲憊，需要解放。怎樣解救他們呢？
但當我們忘記了立法的原意，是為了人的益處的時候，「安息日是為了人立的」（谷2:27），守法律也是白費心機。即是說，盲目地守法，沒有意識地守法，是守法，但沒有增加大眾的益處！如果運用法律來陷害人，更是罪加一等！法利塞人當面直斥耶穌，沒有好好管教自己的門徒，任由門徒「做安息日不許做的事」（2:24），他們正是運用法律來陷害耶穌，是何等的凶狠！
既然他們守舊，我們的師傅便「從他們的寶庫裡，提出新的和舊的東西。」（瑪13:52）對！就跟他們說歷史吧！守舊的人喜歡「以史為鑒」。但願投其所好，能教導他們遵守法律的精神所在。法津固然尋求公義，但天主的公義就是愛，是慈悲，是拯救。所以法律的精神不單是公義，還要有慈悲！守安息日、禁食、行割損禮等等，都是為人的益處而立！守安息日，不是為了紀念上主解放為奴的以色列人嗎？（申5:15）那麼，在安息日解除人的困境，不是履行上主天主的旨意嗎？雖然達味違反了法律的條文，但是他實踐了法律的精神，法利塞人也不敢說達味做錯了。如果能引而申之，我們的師傅也沒有錯。可惜，法利塞人好像不懂引申的道理！耶穌也再沒辦法幫助他們了。
主基督，我們願意學習祢，從對方的處境著想，教導愚蒙。亞孟。
INSTRUCTING THE IGNORANT (Mark 2:23-28)
Is it wrong to observe the law? Of course not!
Our Master is very understanding. He understands that it is easy for people who observe the law rigidly to trap themselves inside a contracting iron cell. Their hearts and minds are exhausted and in need of liberation. How do we liberate them?
But when we forget the intention of legislation, which is for the benefit of men, "The Sabbath was made for men." (Mark 2:27), observing the law is futile. That is to say, observing the law blindly or unconsciously is observing the law, but it benefits nobody! It would be a worse crime to make use of the law to harm people. When the Pharisees accused Jesus for not instructing his disciples properly, letting them do "what is unlawful on the Sabbath" (2:24), they were using the law to harm Jesus. How wicked they were!
Since they are conservative, our Master "brings from their storeroom both the new and the old." (Matthew 13:52) Right! Tell them history! Conservative people enjoy taking lessons from history. Hopeful, hitting on their likes would teach them the spirit of observing the law. The law seeks righteousness. But God's righteousness is love, mercy and salvation. Thus, the spirit of the law is not only righteousness but also mercy. Keeping the Sabbath, fasting and circumcision etc. are made for the good of men! Is keeping the Sabbath not to remember how God liberated the Israelites from slavery (Deuteronomy 5:15)? Then, isn't relieving people from difficulty on Sabbath doing God's will? Although David broke the letters of the law, he was actually practising the spirit of the law. The Pharisees dared not to accuse David of doing wrong. By extrapolation, our Master was not doing wrong too. Unfortunately, the Pharisees did not seem to understand the concept of extrapolation. Jesus could help them no more.
Lord Jesus Christ, we are willing to learn from you, to consider from the others' point of view and to instruct the ignorant. Amen.
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