Matthew 12:1-14

New Living Translation Chapter 12

A Discussion about the Sabbath

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 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.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”

13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

The Jews would know the laws regarding Sabbath rest. They knew the law but they missed the Spirit of the law for Sabbath. Sabbath was not about regulating people and making sure no one worked. Sabbath is about rest and worship. It is about connecting with our Creator. Sabbath is not something we practice even though we know inherently that it’s good for our bodies, soul and spirit.

There was a list 39 categories of activity which were to be classified as “work”.

The religious people built law around law to help people from breaking the law. But they even hacked their own system by creating “boundary-extensions) to allow for more freedom of movement.

Examples:

Writing two letters, erasing in order to write two letters

Building, pulling

Traveling was limited to 2,000 cubits (.6 miles)

Jesus was getting confronted about eating and healing. Two incredible God-given things. If the disciples were near death or the man with the crippled hand was near death than Jesus would not be breaking the law. They weren’t. The religious people just missed the point.

Jesus just talked about how His yoke is easy and light. Being with Him will give us rest! And now He is throwing down on the legalism that turned rest into crushing law!

Sabath was not given to us to crush us but to revive us and keep us leaning in.

Worship offered to God took precedence over all Sabbath rules and regulation!

What is Sabbath?

Why is it hard for us to enjoy Sabbath rest?

Sabbath is scary.

Sabbath is an act of trust.

Sabbath is one of the ten commandments in the OT.

It fits in the Jesus’s simplification of love God and love people.

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. Sabbath was made for man. Not man for Sabbath.

How does Sabbath help me love God and love people?

We were made for Sabbath.

We were made for work and rest.

We were made to be with God.

Overflowing from our awayness with God is what helps us love Him and people better and well.

Misunderstanding God’s character leads us to make rules that misrepresent faith.