This article is by Melvin Woods:
As early as I can remember, I was being told Bible stories. My parents did a thing when I was little with my sister and I called “Jesus Time”. Jesus Time consisted of my mother, my sister, and myself sitting on the couch singing Gospel songs as my dad led us. He used an old fisher price microphone connected to a small toy amplifier (which I still have!). After the Gospel singing we had a little Bible study. Typically at bed time I’d hear another bible story. What was really sticking with me early on was the unconditional love of Jesus and that the characters in the Bible were degenerates. I couldn’t believe some of what I was hearing these people do.
Human nature is on full display in the Bible in its purest form. It doesn’t sugar coat human potential in the least. It calls it what it is. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” It sounds bleak, but it is good news. The Bible pronounces humans indiscriminately as sinners in order to show the power of the gospel, Jesus, and his indiscriminate acceptance. As Paul later says in Romans 4:16 “… that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed.” God found a way to make the promise sure to everyone regardless of their behavior, race, gender, you fill in the blank.
Throughout 2023, I regularly reflected on Proverbs 28:21 “To have respect of persons is not good: for a piece of bread that man will transgress.” I doubt this principle is taught in etiquette courses nor, was it something your elders likely handed down to you as sage advice. It is, however, immeasurably true. To have respect for people isn’t good. Hell, even our own goodness is filthy. We typically think of the big sins, but for just a simple insignificant piece of bread someone will cheat or steal.
This theme of respect, or lack thereof, is throughout the Bible. Paul says in Romans 2:11 “there is no respect of persons with God”, echoing his earlier refrain in Galatians 2:6: “God accepts no man’s person.” James 2:9 “But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” It sounds harsh, but it is fundamentally good news for a sinner.
Back to Proverbs 28:21 and the emphasis on a piece of bread. Once when Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields on the Sabbath, the disciples were hungry and helped themselves to the wheat. The Pharisees see this and they’re obviously not happy. Harvesting grain on the Sabbath? Hell no. The Sabbath was a day of rest, not work. But the disciples not only plucked the wheat, but threshed the chaff off with their fingers. Not only that, but whatever field they found themselves in was clearly not owned by Jesus or his disciples. And I’d wager good money on them not washing their unclean hands before they raise the grain to their lips and begin chewing. Working on the Sabbath, not washing their hands, and misdemeanor theft? The disciples are sinning boldly. Who cares what day it is, let’s eat! All things are permissible.
The Pharisees ask Jesus, “why do they do what is not lawful on the sabbath?”. This strikes at the heart of Jesus’ identity and authority (The climax of the story is a few verses later when Jesus begins to explain who he is). Jesus responds with interesting rhetorical questions based on King David’s conduct (Israel’s greatest king) and the conduct of priests (really holy people). Jesus doesn’t refute the Pharisees’ accusation against the disciples. Looking carefully at Jesus’ examples of David and the priesthood (the priests are only mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel) one can see that Jesus essentially agrees with the pharisees’ assessment. Jesus takes down the superiority of David and the priesthood by showing their own corruption, going so far as to say that what they were doing was not lawful for them to do. David and his mighty men broke the law for a piece of bread that wasn’t for them to eat, and the priests are working on the sabbath. Jesus is an expert on people, and his stories only confirm and advance the Pharisees accusation.
The disciples knew this was a transgression. Their appetite had won over and they disregarded the commandment. Besides their appetite, what could have motivated this display of confident objection? Simply put, they are with Jesus. The bridegroom is with them. They didn’t answer to the Law, but Jesus and the disciples had seen over and over again how he treated offenders. Surely taking a few heads of grain on the sabbath is cool with him. They have nothing to lose with him. What good is morality and law keeping when you are walking with the consummate forgiver Jesus Christ?
Even though Jesus agrees with the Pharisees’ judgements, he still makes no attempt to stop the disciples’ brazen sin. He is almost indifferent and unconcerned with their behavior. The Pharisees can’t stand the fact that a man claiming to be God lets his following behave the way they do. Time is short and Jesus has complete confidence in his ability to forgive sinners.
Jesus goes on to reveal to the Pharisees who he is and what his ministry is all about. He says he is Lord over the sabbath and greater than the temple. What he says goes and he could care less if the Pharisees are right in their accusation. God desires mercy over rule-following every day of the week. Not condemnation. If that is not enough, Jesus goes a step further to consider the disciples innocent. Are you kidding me? Jesus first agrees with the Pharisees and then imputes righteousness to transgressors.
Back to acceptance and respect. Can you see why Jesus doesn’t accept or respect a “man’s person”? Our acceptance isn’t based on us, but him. We can’t undo the acceptance. Neither our goodness (he will not let you boast) nor your badness are relevant to him. If your morality, your thoughts, your past, your future is a little questionable then this is all good news. There is no guilt or condemnation with Jesus. “For where no law is, there is no transgression. (Rom 4:15).” God doesn’t respect you, but he does love you.
