“Rules without grace blind us to the Holy Spirit’s best version of ourselves.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 28, 2026
But 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. For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath! Matthew 12:7-8
My wife, Rita, is definitely the rule follower in our family. She’s a good influence on me and on my creative license. I tell her I don’t mind rules. It’s just the bad ones I don’t like. Of course, rules are necessary for us to follow Jesus in a fruitful, responsible way. God’s rules are the guardrails in our lives, keeping us in the flow of being filled with the Spirit and bearing fruit. However, rules without an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father and with others can be destructive and cause us to miss out on the Lord’s best. As new Christians, we learn the Lord’s precepts, and they become formative in our growth. As we mature, we learn that grace is the backdrop for rules. Rules without grace blind us to the Holy Spirit’s best version of ourselves.
Jesus encountered this on the Sabbath with His disciples, when the 39 rabbinic Sabbath rules conflicted with grace. The rules were man-made, not from God, and Jesus tried to explain to the religious leaders the David precedent, the priestly precedent, and the heart of the matter. In David’s example, Jesus points out that Scripture itself records a moment when human need, in relation to God’s mercy, outweighed a ceremonial regulation. Regarding the priests, the Law itself contained a category of Sabbath activity that was not a violation but service. Jesus confidently places His disciples in that category: they are serving the King. And then He gives the heart of the matter: from Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” And Jesus declares, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). Jesus is not abolishing the Sabbath; He is reclaiming it. He is the Lord of it, the One who instituted it, and He interprets it according to its original intent: mercy, rest, restoration, life. The Law points us to repentance and God’s mercy.
How does your life reflect the rule of God? Are rules a guardrail or a straitjacket? Beyond the bad or unnecessary rules, imagination, creativity, and freedom in Christ reside. Which rules do you need to submit to that you’re currently ignoring, and which rules do you need to allow grace to free you from? They need to be challenged, rewritten, maybe broken, or done away with. Martin Luther, a leader of the Reformation, illustrates the law and grace: “The law is a hammer that breaks the rock of a hardened heart, but it is grace alone that makes the heart new. To keep the law without grace is to hold up a mirror without light — you see nothing but shadow. Christ is the light, and in Him the law becomes song.” Grace ignites God’s glory for all to see!
This week, examine your rules honestly. Divide them into two lists: God-given guardrails and man-made straitjackets. The guardrails: Sabbath rest, honest speech, sexual integrity, generous giving. Submit to them fully, even where you’ve grown lax. The straitjackets: legalisms you inherited, performance measures you’ve imposed on yourself or others, and traditions that no longer serve mercy. Bring them to Jesus and ask whether they still belong. Then, do one merciful act that a rigid rule-keeper would question. Feed the hungry disciple in your world. Live like someone whose Lord is Lord of the Sabbath…free, rested and restored by the Lord’s love.
“The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.” (Galatians 3:24, NLT).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, teach me to love mercy more than rules. Show me which guardrails to keep and which straitjackets to release. Free me by grace to serve like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What bad rule is holding you back from the Lord’s best for you? Tell someone you trust to hold you accountable for changing and becoming more like Jesus.
Related Reading
Micah 6:8; 1 Samuel 21:3-6; Matthew 23:23; Galatians 5:1
Worship Resource
Ben Fuller: Mercy
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