Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath - Luke 6:1-5

When can we break the law?
What is the right balance between legalism and antinomianism? 

Lessons:

• Principle Centered Flexibility
  • What is the higher principle that Jesus applied to justify the 'violation' of certain laws?
  • Sabbath is meant for the benefit of Man
    • doing work for the survival of man is OK - such as eating and healing etc.
  • Human Life is more important than Religious Customs. The greater significance of human need over strict adherence to ceremonial law. Such is true Love for man.
  • 孟子曰：“大人者，言不必信，行不必果，惟义所在。” Mencius said, “The great man, speech needs not always be trusted, action needs not always bring a result, the only thing is to have righteousness.
  • It is OK to break promises when the situation changes and you do so to keep to a higher principle of righteousness. i.e. if keeping the promise brings more harm, then don’t.
• Legalism is adherence to rules, or laws, at the expense of the underlying principles or spirit behind those rules. On the other hand, Antinomians assert that faith in Christ exempts believers from observing moral laws or standards, suggesting that because they are saved by grace, they are no longer bound by moral or ethical requirements. The truth is a more balanced and grace-centered approach to faith, which emphasizes the importance of love, mercy, and relationship with God over strict adherence to religious laws on one hand or lawlessness on the other.

claude.ai gives the following when I asked it to give greater clarity for the last paragraph:

"There are two extreme approaches to religious law and morality:

1. Legalism: This is strict adherence to rules without considering their underlying purpose or spirit. Legalists focus on following laws to the letter, often missing their intended meaning or broader principles.
2. Antinomianism: This view suggests that faith in Christ frees believers from all moral laws. Antinomians argue that since salvation comes through grace, Christians are no longer bound by any ethical or moral standards.

Both these extremes miss the mark. A more balanced approach recognizes that while we are saved by grace, this doesn't negate the importance of moral behavior. Instead, it emphasizes:

• Love and mercy as central principles
• A personal relationship with God
• Understanding the spirit behind religious laws
• Ethical living as a response to God's grace, not a means to earn salvation

This balanced view avoids the rigidity of legalism and the potential chaos of antinomianism. It encourages believers to live ethically out of love for God and others, rather than from fear of punishment or a misguided sense of complete freedom from moral constraints."