Hello @snowpea)))
This is really such a great post. Yes, the Pharisees, although keepers of the Law (Written Torah), completely missed God's heart because of all of their additional legalistic instructions (Oral Torah). As Mark 7:6-7 says:

"He answered and said to them, 'Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" (NKJV)

And that was the deal...their extra teachings, the Oral Torah, with all of the additional rituals, traditions, regulations, and prohibitions, did several things. It obscured the simple beauty and heart of God's Way. It made keeping the Law perfectly impossible by any mortal. And it made the keeping of the Law (Both Oral and Written) something of a status symbol, a thing of pride and ego, and something focused on what man could do versus what God has already done. All ego, and no heart.

God's Way as given to Moses and lived perfectly by Jesus, was always meant to be simple yet distinct. "For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'

Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?

But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." (Deu 30:11-14 NKJV).

And then in Matthew 12:29-30:

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (NKJV)

Simplicity. Heart. Obedience. Love. Follow His Way, not our own, and definitely not the world's. His Way is very straightforward, and since we are not of the Levitical priesthood, there really isn't too much for us to do....except Love God, obey Him out of loving obedience (not for salvation), and love one another. Yeah, there are some other things....keep His Sabbaths holy, keep His feasts, avoid incorporating pagan traditions into the faith, etc. But comparatively speaking, His Way is very straightforward and simple....as He intended it to be.

That way we could focus on being in loving relationship with Him.

Thanks for such a great post, @snowpea! The modern church really needs to take a look at itself and realize a lot of Phariseeism has crept into the faith.

Shalom,
Todd