Throughout this chapter, references are made to the legalistic approach
of religious authorities who accused Jesus Christ of breaking the Sabbath.
But what does the term "legalism" mean? A dictionary definition
of legalism is "a strict, literal or excessive conformity to the law
or to a religious or moral code."
A popular meaning attached to the word today is that any form of biblical
law-keeping is legalism and therefore to be avoided. The word is used pejoratively,
especially against such practices as keeping the Sabbath or adhering to
other laws given in the Old Testament.
However, this use of the word is incorrect. It is not legalistic to obey
God's laws correctly. To be legalistic is to misuse God's laws in a way
never intended.
Pharisees' interpretations undermined God's law
The Pharisees, an excessively strict branch of Judaism whose religious
interpretations dominated popular thinking at the time of Christ, were
examples of this. They added many of their own humanly devised rules and
regulations to God's laws, which had the effect of misrepresenting and
misapplying them.
Their added interpretations of God's laws so distorted the original purpose
that they rendered them ineffective (Matthew 15:6), nullifying them. By
following the Pharisees' interpretations and edicts, the people were no
longer following God's law (John 7:19).
This mistaken view of God's law led many to reject Jesus Christ as the
promised Messiah, even though that very law had prophesied of Him (John 5:39,40; Luke 24:44).
