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Very difficult understanding how people can depend on the law to have anything to do with salvation other than showing them how vile they are....unless of course they are like the Sadducee's and Pharisees who also thought they themselves were righteous because of the law....and tacked a bit of government affiliations onto that mantel to make it “appear” powerful and acceptable....when in fact they lorded themselves over the people. Imagine...these were the Lawyers and teachers of the Law....some things don't change much.

Seems to me the Lord Jesus put them in their place on that issue...called them “White washed hypocrites”...”Brood of Vipers”...and then pronounced many “woe is you” over them for carrying their own righteous acts as if those could somehow cleanse their way before a Holy God.

It's just another stumbling block which holds people back from enjoying the relationship Jesus desires with them...hard to see Christ thru the “veil” of legalism. That very “curtain” which God almighty Himself tore down top to Bottom....and with it said...”The Just shall live by faith”!

The parallel between the Pharisees and their legalism and ANY established religion with a hierarchy and rules and regs is not hard to see.

God is not interested in sacrifices for sin but in a pure heart.

Psalm 51:16-17 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Micah 6:6-8 6 "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"

8He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?