The Weekend Word

Matthew 12:1-14

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath – 11:28-30 – Sabbath = Salvation = Rest

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

• The emphasis is “on the Sabbath” – the story is not Jesus walking through a grainfield.
• Has anyone done this before? Eat raw grain. I remember reading once that it was turned into a gummy substance and you chewed it like gum.

² But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

• The Pharisees seem more like the KGB or the CIA – always there with Jesus under surveillance.
• Now this is actually scandalous.
• Note though that this time they go right to Jesus – they usually go to someone else and talk about Jesus
• Pay attention here – now comes the yoke of the law.

³ He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

• Jesus’ reply – hey, if you want to talk about the Law – take this!!

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?

• 1 Samuel 21:1-6

⁵ Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

• The priests do all of their work on the Sabbath and they are guiltless.

⁶ I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

• If even David can do this – if even the priests can do this…
• I tell you I am greater than the temple.
• Think back to our studies in Hebrews, where the whole point was Jesus was better than –
• The temple – The priesthood – The sacrificial system -The Fathers of the faith, even Moses and Abraham
• Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the temple – now he is the dwelling place of God on earth = Immanuel = God with us.
• If Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the temple, there is now no need to rebuild one like a lot of folks are wanting to do.
• Why do so many congregations believe this about a coming temple?
• Because they do not read the scriptures correctly.
• They do not see the temple and all the OT shadows as pointing to Jesus
• They get mad at me – but in their theology – Jesus, the cross are Plan B to God’s Israel being God’s main purpose.
• The Church is just, well; “I guess that Israel thing did not work out.”
• They are still looking at shadows.
• When the real thing comes (greater than the temple as Jesus says) are you going to keep looking at the shadow (the temple) or look at the real thing (Jesus).
• Why would they (dispensationalists / rapture theology folks) want to go back to something lesser than the greater?
• This theology actually does violence against the kingdom.

⁷ And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

• Hosea 6:6 – “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
• This is the 2^nd time Jesus has thrown this verse up at the Pharisees. Matt 9:9-13 – “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. ¹⁰ And as Jesusreclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”¹² But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.¹³ Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

⁸ For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

• What is the Sabbath?
• Is it for today?
• Is the Sabbath Law or Gospel?
• Is it still in the 10 Commandments? Why can we work on the Sabbath?
• What is the purpose of Jesus being the Lord of the Sabbath?
• Sabbath for the Christian is a time to stop, look and listen
• A time that we take to receive his gifts. So we take time out of our week to gather here, to receive from our Lord.
• To hear the word of God, and to let him have our way with us.

A Man with a Withered Hand

⁹ He went on from there and entered their synagogue.

• Jesus is continually walking from one place to the other.

¹⁰ And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him.

• As if the conversation in the wheat field was not enough.
• So they ask another direct question – not for the purpose of an answer, but so that they might accuse him.
• These are “gotcha” questions.
• The funny thing is that in today’s world we don’t have any information how a Jew should answer this question.

¹¹ He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

• You know Jesus; he turns it on them with his own question.
• Jesus is always there to add clarity to their confusion.
• He asks them about something that affects their wallet.

¹² Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

• And then he drops the hammer on them – so if you would help an animal in distress on the Sabbath why not a person?

¹³ Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

• Almost as if to say “stand aside boys.” – he heals.

¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

• Apparently not impressed.
• Here is the message they missed.
• Jesus here is not claiming that the Sabbath is abolished
• He is not giving instruction for a Christian Sabbath or how it should be observed.
• He is instructing Matthew’s hearers about the primacy and authority of Jesus in God’s plan.
• To give rest to his people and to restore them to wholeness.
• The whole creation needs to be restored to wholeness.