This picture came to me this last Sabbath. I spoke with a friend during Bible study about it coming up. During the conversation it was pointed out that this picture isn’t entirely correct. Even though I just finished drawing it, I would still agree with that statement. I drew it anyway to cause one to think.

From my background, I was taught that the Jews followed the Law. When Jesus came, he was getting onto them for being so strict about following it. In the end, Jesus brought us Grace, so the Law no longer needed to be followed.

This picture is representing that. The Jews following the Law only (the ditch to the right) and the Christians following Grace only (the ditch to the left). In this mindset I had, we went from one ditch to the other. Which is what the picture is trying to represent. Jesus, however, didn’t teach this. He taught both. The Sermon on the Mount is the Scripture reference given here. Jesus covers several things from misunderstandings of the Law, to applying Grace to those who hate you. He also states that what he is teaching is based on the Law and the Prophets (7:12) and that those who don’t do the Law, never knew him (7:23). You see, we can’t have one or the other. They are intertwined. There are aspects of the Law that teach us how to show Grace to others. The Golden Rule itself is from the Law (Leviticus 19:18).

Going back to why this comic isn’t exactly correct: The problem with it is it shows that the Jews are following God’s Law and Christians are following God’s Grace. This isn’t always the case however. More often than not, both parties are following their own law and their own grace, not God’s. In Judaism, there are many extra laws/commands that you won’t find in the Bible. Mark 7 talks about a few of them.

In Christianity, grace is taught to a point that several doctrines/works have spun up from it to utilize this grace. (and these go against what Scripture says)
Sinned intentionally? Just confess it, to a priest or to your brother. (Numbers 15:30-31, Hebrews 10:26-27, 1 John 3:4-10)
Said the sinner’s prayer? Great! You’re in for life, buddy. Nothing you can do can make you lose your salvation. (Matthew 24:13, Philippians 2:12, Jude 5, Galatians 5:19-21)
Don’t want to do either of those things? No worries! God knows your sins, past, present and future, and Jesus’ sacrifice already covered them. You don’t need to do anything. Just live your life how you want. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Matthew 16:24-26)

In Deuteronomy 30, God tells us that He is setting life and good before us, if we obey His commandments, His Law, and death and evil if we walk away from it. Isn’t giving us that opportunity to know what He wants from us and the ability to do it Grace?