QN1.Find five examples in the New Testament where Jesus points out – through his words or his actions – that God’s love and mercy are stronger than a strict sense of justice.
Solution
The first example is from John 8:1-11 concerning a woman who was caught doing adultery. The Pharisees and the teachers of the religious law confronted Jesus with the adulterous woman on stoning her since it was written in the Moses’ laws. Jesus answered them by posing a question that if anyone has never committed adultery should be the first to stone the woman. All walked away without doing anything to the woman. Jesus told the woman to go and never sin again. The act shows God’s love and mercy being strong than the strict justice.
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The second example is found in Matthew 9:10-17, where Jesus dines with Matthew, other sinners, and tax collectors, joined them on the dining table. The Pharisees together with the teachers of the law saw the act and frowned asking themselves why Jesus dined with sinners and tax collectors who they regarded as disreputable in the society according to their laws. Jesus heard them and retorted that what he desired was mercy and not sacrifice. The act shows how merciful and loving God is compared to what justice requires.
The third example is in Matthew 12:1-2. The law according to the Pharisees says that Sabbath is a day to be upheld and respected. The Pharisees spotted some disciples munching on some grains after pulling them off in the grain-fields and reported them to Jesus. Jesus responded by saying that what the disciples did had not violated the sacred writ. It was a show of mercy beyond the compliance of the Torah. Also, another example is found in Matthew 19:3-12 on divorce and what the law wants. Jesus responded to the Pharisees that marriage was sacred and that God joined male and female to become one flesh. He added that no one should divorce unless it is for sexual immorality. Jesus’ words show how stronger God’s love is compared to what the laws say.
Finally, the fifth example can be found in Matthew 22:34-40. An expert in law questioned Jesus on what law was the greatest. In response to the question, Jesus stated that no matter how strict the law was, the love of God came first then that of the neighbors followed. He stated that all the laws were attached to the love of God.
From the above examples, it is clear that Jesus showed that God’s love and mercy were greater than the strict justice that prevailed through his words and actions.
