10.5.2016 (Matthew 12) “…and they (Pharisees) asked him, ‘Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?’ so that they might accuse him. … He (Jesus) said to them … ‘So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.” Matthew 12:10b, 12b-14

Life and death. Life is demonstrated by Jesus’ grace and mercy. Grace is a gift freely given when undeserved while mercy is the act of giving that grace. Death is the absence of life. Jesus offers life. The Pharisees, so concerned about the rules plot to destroy. The obvious question to them is: Is it lawful to pre-meditate murder? Oh that I, you, we would all be renewed in the image of God, that we would love as God loves, that we would love God, others and ourselves. Bringing life.