Several years ago, I thought it would be nice to bring a special treat to one of our Bible Journaling sessions after church. Many of the participants were children, and a lot of their parents are health-conscious—so I wanted to find something that lined up with their values.

With that in mind, I went to Whole Foods in search of a treat without red dyes, refined sugar, or high fructose corn syrup. Eventually, I found what seemed like the perfect thing: gummy bears that were naturally sweetened and colored with fruit. I was so excited—I bought several bags, confident the kids would love them.

A few days later, during the session, I quietly placed the gummies on all the tables as a surprise. Five minutes went by… then ten… then fifteen. No one touched them.

I was puzzled. So I gently reminded everyone that there were treats available if they’d like some. Finally, a little girl—probably around five years old—spoke up. And with the kind of honesty only a child can bring, she said: “The gummies have gelatin.”

It took me a moment to realize what she meant. She was concerned that the gelatin might contain pork. I checked the label, and sure enough—it wasn’t clear whether the gelatin was plant-based, beef-based, or pork-based. So, to be safe, we decided to discard the gummies.

In that moment, I felt two very different things. I was disappointed that the treats had to go to waste… but I was also deeply reassured. These children were being taught well by their parents an awareness of God’s laws—even when it came to something as small as gummy bears.

That experience stuck with me. It made me think more deeply about spiritual growth and obedience. And it reminded me of something Jesus said about the weightier matters of the law.

In His day, the Pharisees were incredibly meticulous about following God's commandments—especially in areas where obedience could be seen and measured. They even tithed herbs like mint, anise, and cumin. But Jesus pointed out something crucial. While they were careful about the letter of the law, they often missed its deeper purpose.

Here’s what Jesus said in Matthew 23:23–24:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

Jesus didn’t criticize their obedience—He affirmed it. He said, “These you ought to have done.” But He also made it clear that obedience is about understanding and applying the deeper intent of God’s law.

So what about us? How do we avoid making the same mistake?

God has given us His Holy Spirit. And He’s written His law on our hearts and minds. Through His Spirit, we’re given a spiritual dimension of understanding—so we can go beyond surface-level observance and apply His principles in a deeper, more meaningful way.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows us exactly how to do this. He teaches us to apply and live by God’s law with its spiritual purpose—with mercy, love, and humility.

The Pharisees struggled with this. They were offended when Jesus healed on the Sabbath, or when His disciples picked grain to eat. But Jesus reminded them of David, who once ate the showbread in the tabernacle—something normally reserved for priests. Why? Because mercy, justice, and faithfulness often require spiritual discernment of the intent of God’s law.

So yes—let’s be diligent, even in small things, like checking for gelatin in gummy bears. But let’s not stop there. Let’s grow in God’s  Spirit. Let’s learn to apply the weightier aspects of His law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness—with grace, with wisdom, and with love.

Just as a reminder: This Sabbath is the United Church of God’s Annual General Conference of Elders, held in Milford, Ohio. The service will be webcast at 1:00 p.m., and all three congregations will be showing the webcast service.

I hope you all have a wonderful and meaningful Sabbath as we continue to count up to Pentecost, coming up on June 1st.