Words like legalist, legalism, etc., are not used in the Bible. Labeling someone a legalist is little more than name-calling unless you define the term. What is a legalist? What is legalism?
Pharisees in the New Testament were legalists. They elevated human tradition to the status of divine law. For example, they carped at Jesus’ disciples for eating without first ritually washing their hands (Matthew 15:2). Hygiene wasn’t the issue, but removing ceremonial uncleanness with a dab of water. God’s law said nothing about it. The tradition was harmless but making it mandatory and condemning others who didn’t observe it was sinful. Making laws where God made none is legalism.
Human tradition sometimes contradicts God’s word. The Pharisees used one of their traditions to evade their responsibility to provide for their aged parents financially. Jesus rebuked them: “You have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:6). That’s legalism.
Jewish legalism also held that one merited God’s favor by law-keeping. Jesus illustrated this in His parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:10-14). The Pharisee proudly listed his good deeds. He deserved God’s approval, right? Wrong! while we certainly ought to obey God, even our best efforts fall far short. We are ever in need of His mercy and grace.
I’ve been called a legalist for insisting on careful study and application of God’s word. In my friend’s church, bishops must be celibate. When I pointed out that the Bible says a bishop “must be . . . the husband of one wife,” my friend said I was being a legalist! Yet it is his church’s tradition that has made God’s word of no effect!
If careful study and application of the Scriptures make one a legalist, then I plead guilty as charged. Better to be called a legalist than an illegalist! In the final analysis, though, searching the Scriptures and following them to the very best of our ability, while relying on the grace of God and the blood of Jesus to wash our sins away, simply is not legalism!
–Joe Slater
