Laws.

It is the nature of the human mind to seek to find patterns in things.

These patterns are often condensed into rules which are then said to be universal.

When rewards and punishments are attached to obeying or breaking these rules we have laws.

How many books have been written which claim to outline the laws of human experience?

They would even legislate love!

Laws make us feel secure.
They are certain and unchanging.
We are in control.

This is the nature of legalistic religions like the Pharisees.

This is also the nature of fundamentalism in religion.

It makes us feel secure.

But these rules, these laws can be demonstrated to break down in certain situations.

Jesus broke the law of the Jews on many occasions and said that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
By which he meant that human's well-being and happiness were more important than the rules.
Or perhaps even the purpose of the rules.

Jesus indicated that the Pharisees thought that the rules were more important than human beings themselves.

So do not get hung up on the rules and the laws, they may not be as important as we think.

Making rules is one of the ways that we make sense out of life.

But God does not obey our rules.
God is unpredictable.
We cannot control God.

The Ten Commandments are not laws to be rewarded or punished they are guidelines for living.

The laws were made for man, not man for the laws.