Scripture: Exodus 31:15, Colossians 1:16-17, Hosea 6:6, Matthew 12:1-8
Summary: In this chapter, Jesus teaches the true meaning of the “Sabbath” and how it is to bring glory to God, not to be used as a religious weapon. The hostility toward Jesus was starting to grow.
Before we undergo any further study of this chapter, it would be helpful to understand the concept of the “Sabbath.” According to the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8), the Sabbath was set aside as one day in seven to cease from labor and take a rest from all unnecessary activity.
Exodus 31:15 and 34:21 set boundaries for the observance of the Sabbath, and Isaiah 53:13-14 proclaim blessings on those who faithfully and willingly keep it in accordance with the law and will of God. God said that there would be penalties for violations of the Sabbath, such as rotten manna (Exodus 16:27-28) and the death penalty for disobedience (Exodus 31:14).
God does not tolerate any sin against Him, and He has not softened His stance (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Unless we accept the free offer of salvation offered by God through the Lord Jesus Christ, we will eternally bear our punishment for our sins in a very real, literal hell (Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28-29; 14:6; Acts 4:12, 20, 16:30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15).
Israel’s history is filled with the consequences of violating the laws and direction of God, and as a result, it was destroyed, sent into exile, and put under foreign rule. The nation of Israel did not come back into existence until May 14, 1948.
The religious leaders of Israel at that time primarily consisted of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees were adherents to the whole of the Scriptures and, at first, were faithful to the Lord in that regard. Over time, however, they began to add regulations and restrictions over what could and could not be done on the Sabbath.
They set rules over how long a day’s journey should be on the Sabbath. They defined what violated labor restrictions and began to add penalties that did not align with Scripture, becoming slaves to traditions and protocols that aligned with personal opinions and interpretations. The prescribed day of rest became a day of dread and fear of violating the teachings of generations of rabbinical ideas.
Here is where the Pharisees and their traditions clashed with the teachings of the Lord Jesus, who is God in the flesh and the Author of the Law. The opening verses of Chapter 12 begin with Jesus and His disciples walking past a grain field, plucking the heads of the grain off the husks (vv.1-8). This took place on a Sabbath day, but they were also hungry. None of this should have even been an issue. The Pharisees who saw this happen admonished the Lord for what they were doing – a form of threshing and reaping, according to the tradition of Pharisaic teachings.
The Pharisees’ zeal for keeping the Sabbath regulations overtook the concept behind the Sabbath. It was a day to honor God and cease from labor, such as one’s occupation, giving mind, soul, and body a break. How did Jesus handle this situation? Instead of dwelling upon what tradition and legality had supposedly been violated, Jesus reminded them about what David had done on the Sabbath (1 Samuel 21:1-9). He had met the requirements for the taking of the sacred bread from the priests. Jesus Himself certainly met and excelled in meeting all requirements for the Sabbath. He created it (Colossians 1:16-17). He kept the Law perfectly.
Instead of worshipping the Lord of the Sabbath, the Pharisees had placed more emphasis on the day itself. The Sabbath became an object of veneration, and hence, an idol, which was a violation of the first and second commandments (Exodus 20:1-3). Not only did the Pharisees embrace legalism over the Lord, but they also lacked mercy, an attribute of God that they should have exemplified (Hosea 6:6).
After leaving the grain field (vv. 9-14), Jesus headed to the nearby synagogue for worship. The Pharisees followed Him, looking for another opportunity to confront Him.
There was a man in the synagogue who had a withered hand. He was brought to Jesus to be healed. The question arose on whether it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. This incident is also found in Mark 3:1-5 and Luke 6:6-11. Jesus raised the question in Mark and Luke’s account; but in Matthew’s account, He asked the Pharisees and the others whether they would rescue a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath. Of course they would! He then asked, “Of how much more value is a man over a sheep? So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (v.12).
With that, He asked the man to stretch out his hand, and it was immediately healed. The Pharisees had no Scripture or logical reason to refute what was an obvious miracle from God. Instead of rejoicing and glorifying God for His grace, mercy, and blessings, it instead made them angry and even more determined to get rid of Jesus. Well, so much for honoring the sixth commandment.
We get amused and angry at the blatant hypocrisy and contempt of the Pharisees and their use of religion to justify their own traditions and practices. Things have not changed. If Jesus came to your church this Sunday and performed the same miracles as we read about in the Word, and taught as He did, would you be honored, humbled, and grateful, or would you get mad at Him for upsetting your routine and tradition? Think long and hard before you answer. Have you made Him the Lord and Master of your life, or does “business as usual” take His place?
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