Parallel 2CH 30:4

The Spirit of the Law

In seeking to celebrate the Passover, Hezekiah faced a dilemma. The Passover, a celebration of Israel’s redemption from Egypt, was the first festival of Israel’s liturgical year (Exod 12:1-2). Hezekiah had worked to restore Israel’s worship of the Lord. But the time between the beginning of his renewal and the first month of the year did not allow the priests sufficient time to be prepared and to gather the people (2 Chr 30:2-3). As a result, he could not celebrate the Passover at the scheduled time.

Hezekiah proceeded with the Passover, holding it a month late (30:15). He deemed having the celebration to be more important than holding it at the prescribed time. By deferring the date with the express purpose of allowing time for the people to gather at the Temple in Jerusalem, Hezekiah achieved harmony between Judah and the people from the northern kingdom and unified the celebration.

The precise regulations were less important than ensuring that the Passover was observed and that all could participate. Also, when the festival began, many of the people were not properly purified, so they were unable to slaughter their own sacrifices as the law required. Again, Hezekiah determined that it was more important for people to participate in the Passover than to meet the precise regulations. Hezekiah prayed for the pilgrims who had no opportunity to be properly prepared; they were not allowed to make the sacrifice in a state of impurity, but they were allowed to participate in the Passover. The right heart attitude and seeking the Lord in prayer brought God’s gracious acceptance (30:18-20; cp. 1 Cor 11:27-34).

Jesus was often criticized by the religious leaders of his day for failing to observe certain aspects of the law, especially regarding Sabbath observance and purity. Jesus’ teaching and actions conveyed that it was more important to demonstrate love toward others than to follow every minute detail of the law. He also spoke harshly of the religious leaders’ own tendency to prioritize the particularities of law observance over the principles that undergird the law. While strict law observance was foundational to Jewish identity, the spirit of the law allowed for a measure of adaptability in certain circumstances.

Passages for Further Study

Exod 12:1-30; 2 Kgs 5:17-19; 2 Chr 30:1-27; Matt 15:21-28; John 8:1-11; Rom 3:23-28; 1 Cor 11:27-34; Heb 9:13-15; Jas 5:16