1At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them.2But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”3Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?4He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.5And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?6I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!7But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’8For the Son of Man is jLord, even over the Sabbath!”
Jesus tells us again that ritual and rules will not make us his disciples. I cannot just pray the right prayers and do the right things and be in the true presence of God. Prayers and rituals can help direct us to Jesus, but they cannot make us His followers. Mindlessly echoing prayers, even The Lords Prayer, may put you in the temple, but being kind to someone who has hurt you because Jesus is kind to you, is actually becoming a Temple and having Jesus live in you and through you. There is a world of difference.
Lord, please live in me and through me. Change me so I can be merciful because You are merciful, and You have been so merciful to me. Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*
I always remember as I was growing up, I kind of thought my grandmother was so superstitious about religion. There were so many prayer rituals she talked about and followed. Rituals do help free us to dive into prayer more deeply, but they are not our entire prayer. Saying words means nothing if we do not follow it with actions, yet those words can mean a great deal in the right context!!!