Legalism is a problem that has existed for ages, and it seems that we're never going to see an end to it in this age. If you're anything like me, it probably irritates you. How do you usually treat legalistic persons? We might attack them, bad mouth them, make fun of them, or curse them. Why? Because that's what Jesus did, right?
Wrong.
I admit that I used to read stories about Jesus' encounters with legalistic Pharisees and teachers of the law and think, "Yeah, Jesus, show them who's boss!" I thought then that He hated their guts. But that's not entirely true.
Sure Jesus did hate the sin and the spirit that motivated their spiteful behavior. But there is reason to believe that behind all those encounters between Jesus and the Pharisees, Jesus wanted to show love to them even if it meant making them look like the bad guys.
Jesus Loved and Cared for the Pharisees
Let us remember that it was Jesus who urged people in Matthew 5:44, saying, "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Jesus was not someone to command us to do something He doesn't do Himself.
The Best Antidote to Legalism is Love
Believers are in a battle against legalism thinking that attacking modern-day Pharisees is the way to beat the spirit. But that's not what Jesus did. Jesus used one weapon all throughout His ministry, and that weapon was love.
1 Corinthians 13:1 reminds us, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."
It doesn't matter how skilled we are in debunking pharisaical or excessively or hypocritically pious teachings and how bold we are in confronting them. If our heart is not love for those who could fall for these wrong teachings and also love for those who have been confused and lead astray by such thinking, we're never going to beat legalism.
The answer to spiteful legalism isn't spiteful contesting but whole-hearted compassion and love. It's time we stopped fighting fire with fire. Only love can defeat legalism and the people who need it most are the legalistic people.
