Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields
on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain
and eat them.
2 When the Pharisees saw this,
they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
3 He answered, “Haven’t you
read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 He entered the house of
God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for
them to do, but only for the priests.
5 Or haven’t you read in the
Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet
are innocent?
6 I tell you that something
greater than the temple is here.
7 If you had known what these
words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a]
you would not have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord
of the Sabbath.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 12:7
Hosea 6:6
Lord of the
Sabbath
Matthew 12:1-8
The Pharisees see the disciples eating unpicked
grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees did not see hungry people but the law being
broken. The tradition or law of keeping the sabbath has been around for many years
at this time, yet what was more important- keeping the law or caring for the person?
Mosaic law forbade work on the Sabbath. Harvesting
grain to eat was considered work. Jesus is the voice of God and does not change
the law but looks at the law. Jesus takes the story of King David who violated the
law by eating consecrated bread. The scriptures do not condemn David but celebrates
the salvation of eating the bread.
Matthew 12:3-4 ESV
[3] He said to them, “Have you not read what David
did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: [4] how he entered the house
of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat
nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
Jesus then looks at the temple priests who must
work harder on the Sabbath to fulfill their duties.
Jesus comes to the conclusion that the law was
to save us and not to tie us down. Often times we forget the essence of the laws.
The essence of the Sabbath was to give people rest. Over time this day of rest became
a burden.
Jesus did not come to tear down the law, but to
restore it. At the centre of the law is restoration and life. The law was never
made to oppress people. It was made to give life. This brings up the question, "What
really pleases God?"
God desire mercy. The Hebrew word for mercy is
a covenantal mercy(*chesed-steadfast love, kindness toward His people). Sacrifice
without mercy is not what God wants. Living a life that pleases God is what God
truly wants.
Matthew 12:7 ESV
[7] And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire
mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
It is no good coming to church, praying, taking
on roles at church, giving alms to the poor while not being merciful. The character
of God is seen in Jesus, he was merciful, compassionate, and giving.
Jesus is saying the sabbath is not a regulation
but it is himself. Jesus healed, set people free, and restored people. Jesus fulfilled
the sabbath. The standard of our faith is not how well we keep the rules but how
we reflect Jesus.
We need to experience the love of God and share
that with others. We need to reflect Jesus. The way life is given is mercy-the same
compassion that is given by God. It is not calling people out or judging them. When
Jesus is the centre of the service, worship and Sabbath, restoration will happen
wherever you go.
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