If you’ve ever lived in a neighborhood with a homeowner’s association, you might have experienced some of the restrictions the association can place on you. My neighbor purchased a basketball goal for his driveway. The backboard was a plastic material. The association confronted him, informing him the goal had to have a glass backboard. He was understandably angry. He told them, “You can’t tell me what kind of basketball goal I can put in my own yard.” He quickly learned that they, in fact, did have that right. Sometimes, we too can get upset when we don’t get our way in life, failing to recognize that it’s God’s desires that reign over all.

How do you typically respond when God’s will comes into conflict with your own desires?

Work on the Sabbath?

Luke 6:1-2

On a Sabbath, he passed through the grainfields. His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?

Sabbath laws address ways people should honor the Lord by refraining from certain behavior.

Exodus 20:8-11

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

The scribes and Pharisees were more interested in the letter of the law than the spiritual intention behind it. Jesus would use these interactions to correct their misunderstanding, and also assert His reign over all things, including the Sabbath.

The Pharisees confront Jesus’ disciples for picking grain from a field. The issue was with the labor of picking the grain, not that the disciples were stealing. Mosaic law permitted eating from a vineyard or grain field (Deut. 23:24-25). Interestingly, Jesus wasn’t picking the heads of grain, so He couldn’t be directly accused. The Pharisees sought to accuse Jesus’ followers to reflect poorly on Jesus Himself.

Jewish traditions dictated that this was unlawful, rather than the law itself doing so.

What kinds of religious traditions do we tend to get trapped in today? Which ones draw people closer to Christ, and which ones push people away from Him?

Lord of the Sabbath

Luke 6:3-5

Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry- 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? He even gave some to those who were with him.” Then he told them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

The Pharisees had directed their question to Jesus’ disciples, but Jesus confronted them Himself. Jesus claps back at the Pharisees by bringing up a story about David, a revered figure in Jewish history.

David was fleeing from King Saul, who wanted to kill him. He asked the priest Ahimelech for bread for he and his men. The only bread available was the “bread of the presence.” This bread was 12 loaves used to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. The bread was placed based on the guidelines from Leviticus 24:5-9. Ahimelech recognized David’s need and gave him the bread.

Jesus was pointing out the parallels between the two actions. Jesus also pointed out that the Sabbath was holy to the Lord. He gave Himself the title Son of Man, which the Pharisees would have understood to mean the Messiah, to point out that he was on the same level as God. This made Him ruler of the Sabbath.

How can we demonstrate our acceptance of Jesus’ lordship in our daily lives?

Do Good on the Sabbath?

Luke 6:6-11

On another Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The scribes and Pharisees were watching him closely, to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against him. But he knew their thoughts and told the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand here.” So he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” After looking around at them all, he told him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored. They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Here we have another confrontation with the Pharisees on the Sabbath. It always amazes me how brazen the Pharisees were. The scripture says here that they were looking for Jesus to heal someone. Clearly they believed He had divine power, and yet they were still trying to call Him out. Then, when He had shown that power by healing the man with the shriveled hand, they were filled with rage and started plotting against Jesus.

The way Jesus responded to the Pharisees is brilliant. He puts the men on record. He asks them if it is lawful to do good or to do evil. Rabbinical teachings would allow actions to be taken on the Sabbath to preserve life. The Pharisees showed their cowardice and remained silent.

Jesus then heals the man. The man had to show some faith though. When Jesus told the man to stand in front of Him, the man did so without question. Then Jesus required him to take action. He said, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did, and his hand was restored.

The Pharisee’s response showed their true nature. Rather than rejoice at the healing of the man, they began plotting to do Jesus harm. They were more concerned with their status and religious traditions than having compassion on a fellow man, which was the point Jesus was trying to make.

What are some ways you could help someone this week?

Conclusion

We shouldn’t place religious ritual above all else.

Jesus is Lord over all of His creation.

Believers must place human needs above ritual practices.