Why are so many of the USA’s troubles connected to “Amendments”?  Lawyer-speak and law manipulation, a phenomenon top of field since New Testament times.  In addition to the law being written on stone to indicate its permanence and immutability we have to admit that amendments to the American Constitution or any other body of law would indicate its imperfection. It is the point made in the book of Hebrews when it affirms that a change in priesthood necessitates a change in law.  Priesthood, as the top ranking agency in Israel, is not Levitical but Melchizedekan.  It is hot in this space and all the crowing about law and order is a dead give away that the reality of grace and goodness is either not enough for insincere people or too much heat for them to absorb.

The scribe and the lawyer

Two professional types in New Testament times were the perpetual hounds of anyone who dared to act on the revelation that David’s greater son was the fulfillment of the essential hope of Abraham’s descendants and the hope of the human race. The scribes appear first helping Herod locate the birthplace of the newborn Messiah and thereafter asking gotcha questions or making shipwreck of the noblest human character trait: forgiveness.

The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Luke 5:21, NASB)

Scribes stood out for gumming up the power and authority that is latent in the Scriptures. Matthew reports that phenomenon: “for He [Christ] was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:29, NASB)

Grace: the block’s hottest girl

Law written in the heart does nothing to resolve the impurities in the heart; it only adds condemnation because it will always serve to show man guilty.  Whether you are saved or not, or think yourself a saint or a sinner saved by grace, there are certain things in the heart that we need to wrestle with. Tell yourself that you are in a different class and you will deny yourself the salvation which God provides for all human beings. Grace is simply too hot to handle much less manipulate, unlike law.  Grace (charis,χάρις) properly received elicits simple and unmixed thanks  (charis, χαρις ).