These ought tobe practiced, without neglecting the other obligations.

A curse is on you, Pharisees, for you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the
marketplace. A curse is on you, for you are like tombstones of the dead which can hardly be seen;
people don’t notice them, and make themselves unclean by stepping on them.”

Then a teacher of the law spoke up and said, “Master, when you speak like this, you insult us, too.
” And Jesus answered, “A curse is on you also, teachers of the law. For you prepare unbearable
burdens and load them on the people, while you yourselves do not move a finger to help them.

Reflect:

Note that Paul speaks about “fruit(s) of the Spirit.” The nine fruits listed are not something that
we produce on our own; they are the results and fruition of the Holy Spirit who dwells
within us. Christian character and holiness are produced by the Holy Spirit and not by any
forced discipline practiced under the law. That’s why Paul states that when we are led by
the Spirit, we are not under the law. However, this is not about being law-less or becoming
agents of anarchy; on the contrary, when we let ourselves be led by the Spirit of Christ,
we do not necessarily need external laws to do the right thing and prevent bad behavior;
we spontaneously, inspired by the Spirit, do the right thing, or rather, the right actions will flow
out of us. When led by the Spirit, we might even break the law for the sake of upholding the spirit
of the law and at the service of higher demands of love.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2022