The Sabbath Law

Topic: Legalism
Passage: Matthew 12:1–13

March 21, 2020

Commentary

Sabbath observance was a binding ceremonial obligation for Israel and most Jews had no idea of the original purpose of the Sabbath. Jesus and His disciples were going through the grain­ fields on the Sabbath, when His disciples began to pick the grain and eat it (v. 1). The pharisees immediately ac­cused the disciples of working on the Sabbath and violating the law (v. 2). In responding to this false charge, Jesus instructed them as to three things the Sabbath was not designed to do:

  1. The Sabbath does not restrict deeds of necessity (vv. 3-4). David was an example, when he and his companions who were weak and hungry ate of the show bread which was only to be eaten by the priests. (I Sam. 21:4-6).
  2. The Sabbath does not restrict service to God (vv. 5-6). Even the most legalistic Pharisee considered the priests innocent who worked twice as hard on the Sabbath ministering in the Temple (Num. 28:6-10).
  3. The Sabbath does not restrict acts of mercy (vv. 7-8). God wants mercy, not religious sacrifice. He wants love, not legalism. Only because of God’s mercy can any of us be saved.

The Pharisees questioned Jesus if it was right for Him to heal a man with a crippled hand on the Sabbath and He answered them by asking, if they had a sheep fall in a ditch on the Sabbath, would they lift it out (vv. 9-11)? Then Jesus told them that people are worth more than sheep and He healed the man with the crippled hand (vv. 12-13)

Application

What are some ways that you can see “Pharisaism” in Churches today? Have I been guilty in my own life of being legalistic like the Pharisees? What can I do to get the "Pharisaism" out of me?

Matthew 12:1– 13 (NET)

1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick heads of wheat and eat them. 2 But when the Pharisees saw this they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry— 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the sacred bread, which was against the law for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are not guilty? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

9 Then Jesus left that place and entered their synagogue. 10 A man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” so that they could accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Would not any one of you, if he had one sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and it was restored, as healthy as the other.