I continue to be fascinated with the idea that evil is the development and defense of a list of people I have been given permission not to love. I am evil to the extent that I keep a list of people who deserve less than the best I am and the best I have.
Jesus had no such list. The sermon on the mount is designed to show us how a person without a list would behave in the most pressing realities of the world.
This morning during my devotional time the word "legalist" came to mind. I had not noticed that the word "Legalist" communicates the idea that a Legal List can be developed. How interesting!
Religious evil is always about a legally justified list of unlovable people. Political evil is always about a legally justified list of unlovable people. Personal evil is also legalized lack of love. I personally write the law of love in my own heart as my personal evil. It only takes one Legal list to make a legalist.
Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness. Jesus is the new law written in our hearts. Jesus is the kingdom where their are no Legal Lists. The laws one used to make legal lists are not needed since Jesus kept every law for all mankind so no more lists should be made to stop love.
Watch out for any Legal Lists of unlovable people. They are everywhere and very well written. Watch out for the most dangerous Legal List of all. That is the one you write within your own heart.
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