Showdown on Sabbath

Introduction

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What do we need to grow in Christ? Matthew 4:4 “4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ””

But how do we approach God’s words?

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Today we will contrast the Pharisee’s approach to God’s word to Jesus’s approach

Law’s Intent

Matthew 12:1–8 ESV

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. 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.” 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? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And 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 of the Sabbath.”

Revelation

Jesus just promised rest for souls who come to him. We discussed how this was more than just a cease from physical labor, but also stopping the striving to get on God’s good side.

But the Pharisees are burdened with making God pleased with their law keeping. They are also in the business of burdening others. They have invented a list of 39 activities which are forbidden on the Sabbath. One of which is writing two letters.

The disciples pick heads of grain and eat them. In order to eat them they have to rub the grain out of their husks in their hands. So not only do they “harvest” they also “thresh.” Both of which were activities forbidden on the Sabbath. Not only is harvesting explicitly forbidden by their list, it is also forbidden by Scripture. Exodus 34:21 “21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.”

Notice in v. 2, that the Pharisees address Jesus and not his disciples. A teacher his responsible for his disciple’s behavior.

Jesus responds by giving two Old Testament accounts. The first is from 1 Sam. 21:4-5. Jesus’s point in recounting this story is that David is allowed this bread precisely because he is the anointed one. It is because of who David is that he is permitted to do what is not lawful. And so Jesus places his own authority alongside that of David’s.

Jesus then moves on to an example from the law. The law requires the priests to work on the Sabbath. Leviticus 24:5–8 mentions how the priests are to prepare the bread of the presence. 8 Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the Lord regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever.” The bread of the presence is significant because it represents God’s ongoing provision for the people. And yet is its the priests’ responsibility to bake and change it out every Sabbath. So Jesus uses the word, “profane:” The priests profane the Sabbath, as that is the very thing he is accused of doing.

But they were allowed, because the temple regulations were greater than the sabbath regulations, and thus they are required to obey the greater law. But Jesus argues that something greater than the temple is now here. And certainly that something greater is Jesus and his kingdom.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke a. Picking Heads of Grain (12:1–8)

The authority of the temple laws shielded the priests from guilt; the authority of Jesus shields his disciples from guilt

Jesus first instructs the Pharisees on how to properly handle the law, now he turns to rebuke them for failing to understand it rightly. The Pharisees have placed the letter of the law above the spirit of the law. They placed the ritual above the relationship. The placed the ceremony above the substance.

This is the sharp rebuke, “If you had known what this means. . . you would not have condemned the guiltless. . .” Mercy over sacrifice which one commentator writes:

The Gospel of Matthew 1. Conflicts over Keeping the Sabbath (12:1–14)

in God’s scale of priorities a positive concern for the good of others (“mercy”) takes precedence over formal compliance with ritual regulations

What is more important? Compassion and kindness to those who are hungry, or upholding the rituals? Jesus argues that the Old Testament teaches compassion is more important.

Throughout the Old Testament the Sabbath is referred to as the Lord’s. When people would participate in Sabbath, they would do it to/for God. Now, here Jesus claims to be Lord of the Sabbath, as though it belongs to him, and how people do it should be done in honor to him. The irony of it all is that the Pharisees were trying to make themselves lord of the Sabbath rather than use that law to honor God.

Relevance

The pharisees said you were not allowed to spit on the ground on Sabbath because that would be considered tilling the ground. Pharisees said women were not allowed to look at a mirror on the Sabbath because they may see a grey hair and be tempted to pluck it.

Jesus says, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden.” These practices added on to the law by the Pharisees, what are their purpose? Part of it is intellectual satisfaction. They want to know precisely everything that could be considered breaking the law. Another part is prevention. They want to ensure the law is never broken.

But could you imagine being so caught up with the prevention of breaking the law that you forget its intent?

There was this book I read as a kid called The City of Ember. It was post apocalyptic. These people created a temporary underground city so they could survive whatever calamity occurred on the surface. The story takes place many years after the city is established. The calamity on the surface is long past. The earth is ready to be lived upon again, but no one knows that. Everything in the city continues to break down. And all the citizens spend all their waking hours to make sure the city remains sustainable. But it was not designed to last that long. It was designed as a temporary refuge.

The mayor of this city knows that it is dying but refuses to try to find any escape in order to protect his own power and position.

I think this is how we approach Scripture today. Instead of allowing Scripture to shape our view of the world. . .instead of allowing Scripture to shape our wants we instead take our wants to Scripture and ensure that our holy book enshrines them.

We live in the age of people who believe they are what they feel. And business people know how to play into that. They know how to market their product to make it something you need. The are sure to make their advertisements relevant.

Relevant, what does that mean? It means “closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.” (Oxford Languages, via Google)

Don’t you want the Bible to be relevant? Closely connected to what you are doing or considering?

And this is how a lot of preachers do things. They go to their target market and listen. They find out what their target audience is doing or considering.

Then they go to the Bible with the scalpel and tear it to shreds to ensure the Bible says the same things that are relevent.

Then these preachers promote their product of preaching to gather a crowd. They would rather have a large crowd and lots of money than learn the intent of the Word. This preacher finds the letters in the Bible and ignores the intent.

This is what the pharisees are doing. They have determined for themselves the 39 ways that someone can break the Sabbath. They see someone breaking it, and they condemn. They would rather see those men hungry and in need than breaking the Sabbath. They find the letters and ignore the intent.

Pharisee’s Intent

Matthew 12:9–14 ESV

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 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. 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? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 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. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Revelation

In this story, it almost seems as if the Pharisees are trying to set Jesus up. The setting is clear: a synagogue on the Sabbath, there’s a man with withered hand, and the Pharisees ask the set up question. We even see the reason for the question “so that they might accuse him..”

But Jesus answers again straight from the law.

The mere stopping work use the letter of the law to ignore its intent.

What is the intent of the law?

What is the greatest commandment? To love God, the second like unto it, to love neighbor. So, when we obey the law it should have love of God and neighbor as its purpose, right?

Any law can be twisted and manipulated to the benefit of the one who is supposed to be following it. The law that is designed to help us love God the pharisees use to entrap their neighbor.

Jesus corrects their understanding of the law by using the law. He asks them if they would pull their sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath. Which every single one of them would. Who does that benefit? Themselves. Then Jesus asks how much more value a man is than a sheep. Again, Jesus is arguing from lesser to greater. If breaking Sabbath is allowable in a lesser situation, how much more is it allowable is a greater situation?

Jesus heals the man and notice the Pharisee’s response. They would rather murder a man rather then give up their wrong ritual understanding. Talk about upsidedown lawkeeping

So what is the Pharisee’s intnent with God’s word? It’s hard to say. To obey it, yes, but why? To control it. It seems the Pharisee wants to be in control of the God’s word and will stop up their ears with their fingers to anyone who tries to correct them.

Relevance

Notice again the Pharisees approach to the Bible. They already determined what the Bible teaches on this matter. They are waiting for Jesus to fail. Jesus corrects them on their understanding of the Scripture, but they would rather kill him than change their mind about the Bible.

I believe there is a time and a place for systematic theology, doctrine, cross reference studies, and even life principles. The problem takes place when we, like the Pharisees, approach the Bible with smugness. We have already determined our reality based upon our wants and whims and go to the Bible forcing it to meet our reality. That is the problem.

Let me give you an example of this. I have a terrible habit of seeing posts by extravagant churches doing ridiculous things, as you know. It seems as though a large portion of large churches do a series over the summer called “at the movies” which I think is essentially a VBS for adults. This one church was completely decked out in Mario decor. I took special note of something they had up on the screen. It was a principle I presumed the believed to have derived from Scripture, “We will do anything short of sin to reach people who don’t know Christ.”

Consider that statement. What does it assume? Pragmatism. Whatever works we will do. Furthermore, whatever works is what is good.

Should we do something because its what works or because it honors Christ? Just because something works and is not sin does not mean it is God-honoring.

What if I say, “If 200 people show up next week I will give away a brand new car to someone here.” Would that work? Perhaps. Is it sin? No. But does it honor God?

Do you want to find rest?

Stop shaping God’s word and allow God’s word to shape you.

Applicaiton

Stop the Russian roulette method of Bible study.

Don’t hop from place to place in the Bible.

Chose one book, and read through it slowly.