Tears Of Joy

In order to understand what this verse is about, we have to go back to the time of Christ and realize that one of the most serious problems any sincere, conscientious person faced was the intolerable burden of his religion. There were six hundred and sixty-six laws which all good Hebrews knew and tried to obey to keep right with God. It affected what they ate, what they wore, what they believed, what they did, and how they worshipped. There were a thousand “Thou shalt nots” which grew out of these basic commandments and the writings of the rabbis. Their religion had become a religion of “oughtness!” “You ought to do this; you ought to do that; thou shalt do this; thou shalt not do that.” It had become a constricting, confining, heavy burden. It brings to mind the story of the little boy who answered a salesman’s ring at the front door. As he opened the door, the caller asked him, “What is your…