“And if you are seated in your high chair, or in a chair such as a greater person might use, keep your legs and feet below you as they were.

Neither raise up your knees, nor place your feet upon the table, for that is an abomination to me.

Yes, even when you have an interesting bandage to show, your feet upon the table are an abomination, and worthy of rebuke.

Drink your milk as it is given you, neither use on it any utensils, nor fork, nor knife, nor spoon, for that is not what they are for; if you will dip your blocks in the milk, and lick it off, you will be sent away from my presence.

When you have drunk, let the empty cup then remain upon the table, and do not bite it upon its edge and by your teeth hold it to your face in order to make noises in it sounding like a duck: for you will be sent away from my presence.

When you chew your food, keep your mouth closed until you have swallowed, and do not open it to show your brother or your sister what is within; verily I say to you, do not so, even if your brother or your sister has done the same before you.

Eat your food only; do not eat that which is not food; neither seize the table between your jaws, nor use the raiment of the table to wipe your lips. I say again to you, do not touch it, but leave it as it is.

And though your stick of carrot does indeed resemble a marker, draw not with it upon the table, even in pretend, because we do not do that, that is why.

And though the pieces of broccoli are very like small trees, do not stand them upright to make a forest, because we do not do that, that is why.

Sit just as I have told you, and do not lean to one side or the other, nor slide down until you are nearly slid away.

Heed me; for if you sit like that, your hair will go into the syrup.

And now behold…..even as I have said, it has come to pass.”

– By Ian Frazier (February 1997. The Atlantic Monthly. “Laws Concerning Food and Drink; Household Principles; Lamentations of the Father”)

To a child, this must seem like such a long and oppressive list of laws. I counted, and there were about 23 laws…23 laws just to eat dinner! So restrictive! From the child’s perspective, it must seems like they’re being so tightly controlled. If dinner only lasts for 30-40 minutes in this household, imagine how many laws there must be for the rest of the day! It’s got to be in the hundreds. Maybe even up in the 600’s! How can any child be expected to obey so many laws? That’s a lot of ought. 

As an adult, how much would you struggle to follow that set of laws for dinner?

Well, you probably wouldn’t struggle at all. What the father who wrote the laws was really after was a pleasant evening meal. His hope was for everyone to sit together and enjoy the food that was prepared and enjoy heart connection with the family. That’s it! That’s all! It’s really simple. For most adults, this sounds like something to look forward to. No laws are needed when the intended outcome is the way that the people at the dinner table will naturally behave themselves. No laws are needed when the hearts of the people are aligned with the desire for a pleasant evening meal. It would be pretty silly to read off a list of dinner table rules as an adult when you have friends over. I think people would have a hard time relaxing and acting natural. They might start becoming conscious of all the rules and trying to make sure to follow all the rules instead of just relaxing and enjoying the meal. The rules would have a negative effect and taint the whole meal and time spent together. 

The very same set of rules and laws that are necessary to maintain order for small children are completely unnecessary, and in fact detrimental, for a group of adults at the dinner table. 

In the Old Testament, we see God giving a lot of laws to the nation of Israel.

Do this. Don’t do this. 

Do this. Don’t do this.

Do this. Don’t do this.

On and on it went. 613 laws.

If having a pleasant, relaxing meal where family connected with each other was the desired outcome of the “Laws When at Table”, then what was the desired outcome of the Mosaic Law?

Jesus gives us the answer in Matthew 22: 36-40. He says that all the laws and prophets are about this desired outcome: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

The desired outcome was that we love! That’s it! That’s all! It’s really simple. If you have a heart that naturally desires to love God, love yourself and love others, you’re fulfilling the law! You don’t need rules and more rules. They’ll just distract you and make a natural thing very unnatural. Not only that, but “all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse…no one who relies on the law is justified before God…Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.” (See Galatians 3 NIV)

Laws and rules from the Old Testament aren’t opposed to God’s desires just as the “Laws When at Table” aren’t opposed to the father’s desires.  It’s just that the intended result can’t be achieved by following the laws. If you aim to follow the laws, you’ll miss life. You’ll miss righteousness. If you receive life through Christ, you won’t need laws because you’ll fulfill what God had in mind by having the life and mind of Christ. It’s about a heart change. A heart of stone needs laws and rules. A heart of flesh is harmed by living under laws and rules.

“Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for. But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.” (Galatians 3: 23-27 MSG)

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4)