February 17: Sin and the ability to turn the other cheek

Leviticus 4:1-5:19

Mark 2:13-3:6

Psalm 36:1-12

Proverbs 10:1-2

Going through today's readings, it is amazing to see how much the concept of sin appears to change.  Where, in the Old Testament, the only thing that mattered was the rule, where it did not matter if you know what you were doing, if you knew it was sinful, or if you intended to do it, in the New Testament the rules appear to have changed completely.  Here, Jesus appears to be breaking the laws - the law about the Sabbath in particular, and twice.  What he is doing is offensive to the Pharisees who, in their defense, have chosen to interpret Jesus's actions in the manner they were accustomed to interpreting them - in the most literal way possible, a manner certain to lead them to take offense at Jesus and His actions.  

However, Jesus shows them there is another way, a more benevolent way - in fact, a genuinely God-centric way to understand His actions, to for us to act as well.  He points out intent - Jesus did not mean to defile the Sabbath, He meant to heal a man, to feed His disciples, to call the unclean and the sinners.  I cannot help but relate this concept of intent to Mt 15:18, where we are told "the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man".  Where the thoughts are evil, then the actions that result are evil.  Where the thoughts are good, then the actions that result are good as well.  

For the last couple of weeks, I have been struggling with the same thing the Pharisees struggle with - how to interpret an action another commits, which I find sinful and offensive and which the other person believes well intentioned and innocuous.  Should I take offense?  Should I not?  Sometimes it is impossible to understand where the other person is coming from, to know for certain whether or not offense was intended.  I find, however, that I am better served by choosing an interpretation that thinks well of the other person, that chooses not to take offense.  Perhaps that will be the start of my ability to truly turn the other cheek.