Lord, who will be allowed into your presence
When you come into your own upon Zion?
How do you read Scripture?
Those who refuse to gossip
or harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends
Those who despise sinners
and honor the faithful
and keep their word
Those who cannot be bribed for false witness
I have observed all this instruction
And even lend money interest-free!
Can the spirit of God
be captured in a list?
A flagrant sinner
may break your heart
But mercy and grace
can mend what breaks
Can you uphold the law and sling stones
with the same hand?
Is there room in your heart
to both despise and love?
If not, which do you suppose
will win the day?
Seeking to justify ourselves, we can turn to just about any passage of Scripture and say, “See? I’ve done what you asked. Can I take a break now?” Peter is starting to get that, and has further reflection on the incident with the young lawyer and the parable of the “good Samaritan” in Luke 10, as he reflects on Psalm 15.