Love the Rule Maker, Not the Rules | Luke 6:1–11

Theme: Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath, calls us to love Him, not just follow rules, finding true rest in His grace. Big Idea: We are called to love the Rule Maker, not just obey the rules.

Introduction – Love the Rule Maker, Not the Rules (4 minutes)

Opening Illustration:

Imagine coming home exhausted after a tough week. Your spouse sits you down, hands you a drink, and says, “Rest.” That’s love, not a rule to follow.

But what if instead of giving you your favorite drink, she handed you something you don’t like, or instead of letting you sit in your comfy chair, she made you sit on an uncomfortable stool. Or if she critiqued the way you sat or the way you sipped. If that happened, she would turn that care into a rigid command: “Rest this way, or you’re wrong!”?

That’s what the Pharisees did in our passage. In this text we will look at how the Pharisees took God’s Sabbath—turned a gift into a burden.

Read Luke 6:1-11

Luke 6:1–11 ESV

On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Through these two Sabbath encounters, Jesus shows that He, the Rule Maker, deserves our love, not just our rule-keeping.

Let’s see how He teaches this.

Picking Grain – Sabbath Made for Man

The Pharisees were known for their emphasis on oral traditions and additional regulations. Because of this they interpreted Sabbath laws to include a broader definition of "work." According to rabbinic tradition, as outlined in by the orthodox union, there are 39 categories of work prohibited by Rabbis on the Sabbath, including writing, untying permanent knots, and harvesting. Picking grain was seen as reaping, a form of agricultural work, and thus prohibited, even if done by hand for immediate consumption.

In fact today, orthodox Jews still have a whole list of rules about what constitutes work. A church member recently turned me onto a Jewish couple, Moses and Zippora, who are Jewish influencers who explain how they keep Sabbat, or Sabbath. I wanted you to see one of their reels and though this is not about the Sabbath, I want you to hear what Moses says about their rules

https://www.tiktok.com/@mosesandzippora/video/7515115068095270175?lang=en

Notice what Moses said, these are Torah rules, but they are guides that the Rabbis have put to “protect” people from breaking the law.

This is what Jesus was dealing with in this passage. These 39 categories of Work prohibited by the Rabbies. So despite the fact that there is no law against this, their traditions had made it a prohibited "work". 

So the Pharisees were objecting to Jesus breaking their law, and not the law. This is key. But notice Jesus didn't push back, he simply showed that their law wasn't God's law, and that the law was given to provide relief to his people. It is a common grace.

But Jesus points to David eating sacred bread to meet need (1 Samuel 21:1-6), then declares, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5). Jesus, the Rule Maker, shows the Sabbath is for our rest and redemption (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15).

We are called to love the Rule Maker, not just obey the rules. The Pharisees missed Jesus’ heart, but we’re invited to love Him as Lord.

R.C. Sproul says, “The Pharisees’ traditions obscured the Sabbath’s intent to provide rest and renewal. Jesus… reveals its true meaning by meeting human need” (The Reformation Study Bible).

The Point: The Sabbath is God’s gift of love, not chains to bind us. Love Jesus, who gives it meaning.

Healing on the Sabbath – God’s Grace & Mercy

Content:

In a synagogue, a man has a withered hand. The Pharisees watch to see if Jesus will heal, another “unlawful” act (Luke 6:6-7). Jesus asks, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath?” (Luke 6:9). He heals the man, restoring his hand (Luke 6:10).

Healing is an act of love, not work. The Pharisees’ rules made the Sabbath a trap, but Jesus shows it’s for mercy, reflecting His heart as the Rule Maker.

The problem with religiosity is that it becomes about the form and not about what Jesus came for. Jesus didn't come to "restore Israel's religion", Jesus came to "seek and save the lost." 

Now granted, this isn't a religion=bad argument. But it is an acknowledgement that when our religion becomes religion for religion's sake it becomes antithetical to the gospel.

Their man-made rules that said, "You cannot eat this today or you will break the law" also "You cannot heal him or you will break the law."

Jesus would challenge this thinking in Mark 2:23-28. This is Mark sharing Peter's recollection of this story, and he adds context to Jesus' encounter. In these verses Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."

This is fundamental in understanding this story: Sabbath rest, Sabbath rules, Sabbath commandments are all for us.

The Sabbath is a gift, not a burden. It's an opportunity, not an obligation. The Sabbath is relational not ceremonial.

We are called to love the Rule Maker, not just obey the rules.

Jesus’ compassion shows He’s worthy of our love, not just our compliance.

D.A. Carson says, “Jesus’ actions show that the Sabbath is not about rigid rule-keeping but about reflecting God’s compassion and authority” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary).

Love Jesus by following His example of mercy, not the Pharisees’ rules.

Early in Israel’s history, God judged sin—like a Sabbath-breaker stoned (Numbers 15:32-36)—to show its seriousness. Later, He offered mercy (Jonah 3:10; Jeremiah 18:8), revealing our need for grace.

Jonah 3:10 ESV

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

In Luke 7:44-47, Jesus says of the woman who anointed Him, “Her many sins are forgiven, for she loved much.” The law shows our sin; grace leads us to love the Rule Maker (Romans 5:20-21).

Romans 5:20–21 ESV

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

That’s the Sabbath’s Purpose: It’s a gift of rest and redemption, not a rule to earn favor. The Pharisees loved rules, but Jesus invites us to love Him.

We are called to love the Rule Maker, not just obey the rules. The Sabbath points to Jesus, who gives true rest through His love.

John MacArthur says, “The Sabbath was designed to be a day of joy, rest, and worship, not a straight-jacket… Jesus’ healing and provision demonstrate that mercy is at the heart of God’s law” (MacArthur New Testament Commentary).

Love Jesus, the Rule Maker, who fulfills the law with grace.

Ask, “Are YOU loving Jesus or just following rules?”

Application – Love Jesus, Find Rest

Today you must reject legalism and love Jesus, finding rest in Him.

Warning: Are we like the Pharisees, turning faith into a checklist? Church, Bible study, good deeds—these are vital expressions of faith, but they’re not the goal. Loving Jesus, the Rule Maker, is.

So how do we do this?

Sabbath Living: Make time to rest in Jesus—worship Him, reflect on His redemption, and show mercy to others. Help the hurting, like Jesus did, out of love.

Gospel Invitation: Jesus says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, LSB). He’s the Lord of the Sabbath, offering eternal rest through His cross. If you’re weary from sin or rules, love Him today—trust His grace.

Remember: (Big Idea Echo) We are called to love the Rule Maker, not just obey the rules. Jesus’ love frees us to rest in Him.

Prayer: Confess legalism, thank God for His love, and commit to loving Jesus.