Plucky Disciples

Plucky Disciples Matthew 12:1-8

Sabbath. Just that word almost turned this into a two-parter. Its misunderstood by so many, used as a means of control by others, and even as it commanded in some places and symbolic in others, it still has meaning and some thoughts about it in our modern observance of it. The sabbath was a commanded 7th day of rest, even as part of the festival that God instituted for the Jews.

The word literally means, rest. And its neat how right after offering rest, the law of rest is addressed

Know whats funny is that I thought, “I’m totally gonna solve the drama around Shabbat! Hebrew word for Sabbath or Rest” Then realized there is no problem. The problem isn't Sabbath or the Word, but us. Unwilling to give up pre-suppositions and mythology, we argue and fight. Because we should. Gods Word and his commands mean something. And if God wants us to practice sabbath, we need to practice sabbath.

Used as a means of control, its abuse permeates “cults”. Like the Seventh Day Adventists. They had 3 founders but the most influential one was “Ellen G. White: Her writings, particularly her prophetic insights, have profoundly influenced Adventist doctrine and practice. Adventists view her as a prophet of God, and her writings are considered to be divinely inspired.” She declared Sunday worship as the mark of the beast. The Hebrew roots movement, and others like it, including some “Messianic Christian” groups also abuse the teaching on it. This abuse and stance leads to

As we examine the following text please, just hear what Jesus says in light of the context of entirety of scripture and not just what we think of it. We are accused of not recognizing the OT as authoritative, but even baptists confess that the old and new are the ONLY infallible, authoritative rule of faith and practice. Lets take a look at these Plucky Disciples

Plucky Disciples - Matthew 12:1-8 The Crime 1-2, The 3 Witness Defense 3-8.

Matthew 12:1–8 “ At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” 3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.””

The Crime 1-2

Matthew 12:1 “ At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.”

Now, its gonna be really fun to watch some squirm with this. I really don’t think this is violating even Moses law of shabbat, but look

Disciples are following Messiah. Who is not rebuking them, so they and He must be ok with how they are getting sustenance.

this was a common practice, especially among the poor. they were only allowed to take from the edges & corners of the field. Leviticus 23:22 “ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.’ ””but they are walking through the fields.

This isn't that. It also took some guts to do it, because violating the sabbath came with a cost: turn: Established in Deuteronomy 5:12–15 “ ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” price of breaking; Numbers 15:32–36 “a man collecting stick for a fire was stoned to death” needless to say, the sabbath was well obeyed after that day. Back to Matt

While you’re turning back, some things about the Sabbath. Some try to argue that the sabbath is from the beginning, but recognize, there is zero indication that a Shabbat was practiced until established by the law of Moses. Though some say that in…

Genesis 2:2 “ And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” this is not establishing a sabbath we are required to obey even at this point. Some argue that Genesis 2:3 “ Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” but even that comes with how many commands? None. Other parts of the scriptures reference this as reasoning, but not as being practiced from this time.

It was specific to Israel Exodus 31:16 “ Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.” Some argue that since we are grafted into that family we are as well. False equivalence. Read Romans chapters 6-11.

The sabbath was the only of the 10 commands Jesus never commands us to obey as believers. You can observe if it if you chose, but it is not required. For these guys, its a big deal. it could get them killed. and…

Matthew 12:2 “ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!””

Not lawful. Being accused of that as we saw, could get you killed. Now, don’t worry, the Pharisees aren’t just trying to be helpful. They will eventually report this as Jesus violating Sabbath. Totes ok on almost any other day, per Deut. 23:24–25 but in a sense they were right, regular work was not to be done.

They are his disciples. His responsibility to teach them.

Now, the pharisees had added greatly to the law. You couldn't even spit because it might make mud. They don’t immediately run straight to rulers or temple because they know its debatable.

Jesus is going to make a 3 witness defense of their actions and the third one really blows them away.

In the defense he first addresses the King (David). Then the priest, then the prophet (thats enough for Deuteronomy 19:15 to establish a matter)

The 3 Witness Defense 3-8

Matthew 12:3–4 “ But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?”

Now, love His referring the memorizers of books, meticulous in keeping the law, Phariees. Don’t you read the bible yo? He refers to 1 Samuel 21:1–6, and David gos to Ahimelech the priest - David and his men are starving and he asks for the bread that had been taken from the tabernacle after being replaced by the fresh bread, but it couldnt just be thrown away. It was for use by the priests (Leviticus 24:5–9) they had to eat it or burn it and Jesus makes the point, it wasn’t lawful for david and his bros to eat!

It doesn't seem like Jesus is excusing breaking the law, but making the point of it being about people. But I wanna listen to the words of the event He’s using after the priest made sure the guys were pure from sexual immorality to partake - 1 Samuel 21:5–6 “ Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.” 6 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the Lord, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away.”

David says his guys have maintained their walk with him even though they are men, the bread was in effect common having been removed but wasn't meant to be given out.

That the command given was not one that required slavish devotion. And the priest, gave him the bread.

Jesus continues- with the priest

Matthew 12:5 “ Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?”

Priests - the keepers of the law and atonement, violate the law every Sabbath as a “profession”. Our regular work, is clearly “service,” but still work.

Priests, rabbi, prophet, all in the exercise of their duties violate the day of rest. Because that same law commands - they profane: bebelousi: profane, violate sanctity (being set apart for use).

Numbers 28:9–10 “ ‘And on the Sabbath day two lambs in their first year, without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, with its drink offering—10 this is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering.”

This was to be done every Sabbath this was the work of the priest. But a work done in service to the Lord seems to be a work that is holy, right and acceptable to the Lord.

each one of these focusing on the Priests/temple.

Then the prophet

Matthew 12:6–7 “ Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.”

How wild is that? Jesus says, in the midst of the bread of the temple (Jesus is the bread) the sacrifices of the temple (Jesus is the Lamb of God) and now, One greater than temple.

Jesus of course as the Son of God shines far above and he quotes Hosea 6:6 which is an embarrasing hit to them, check it, turn: Hosea 6:4–6 “ “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away. 5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And your judgments are like light that goes forth. 6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

Jesus says to them, you wouldn't have condemned if you had the heart of mercy not trying to sniff sin and find everyone guilty. We shouldn't ignore sin, but it needs to be done from a place of mercy and sacrifice. NLT Matthew 12:7 “ But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’”

Jesus uses it just like that. The priest showed mercy to David. God shows Mercy to the Priest. And Jesus shows mercy to all, coming to save not just the Jews (temple) but all who would believe.

Jesus, our prophet, priest and king, comes on the scene and offers His all and declares himself (Like bread/water/door, etc)

Matthew 12:8 “ For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.””

He is the source and focus of the sabbath. He is not just ruler of it. The sabbath is about him. Matthew 11:28–30 “ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

Colossians 2:16–17 “ So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Hebrews 10:1–4 “ For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” We have a completely new covenant. Hebrews 8:10–12 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.””

We come to him for our rest, Jesus is the Lord, even of the Sabbath (Rest). Only God could say this, that its source and fulfillment is in Him. So that would mean…Jesus is God, correct. Because though they cannot see it now, its always pointed to a law living in us, not us living for a law. If we want to practice them for personal edification, please feel free. But we are called to obey the command of Christ in our heart. Not death but life.

So this one little act of these plucky disciples, starts a chain reaction of all of them - where… Matthew 12:14 “ Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.”