What Can We Do on the Sabbath?

By Mary Vee
Matthew 12, Mark 2, Luke 6

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Jerusalem

My name is Matthew. I am a disciple of Jesus. I am here with other disciples, so they may add something to what I share today. 

We were just at the temple today. Before that, Jesus healed a lame man, He has also had a discussion with the leaders of the Temple. You can read about these events in last week's story. 

This is still the Sabbath and we are hungry. Jesus, who always thought of our needs, led us out to the cornfields where we found food.

It happens that the Jewish leaders who debated with Jesus earlier followed us. I think they were looking for a reason to argue with Him.

As we walked along the cornfields, we picked some heads of grain and ate them. Only seconds passed before the Pharisees moved closer to Jesus. "Look!" they shouted, pointing at us. "Your disciples are disobeying the law on the Sabbath."

The Sabbath was to be a day of rest when Jews did not boil water, create anything, agree to a contract, cut flowers, or break anything. It was a day, set aside, to think of God and all He has given to us, to have peace, and a time of rest.

Jesus looked at us eating the grain then back at the Pharisees. He said, "Haven't you read what David did when he and the men with him became hungry? David entered the house of God, and he and his men ate the bread set aside for God, which, as you know, was not lawful for them to do. Only the priests were allowed to eat that bread. 

"Or what about yourselves. Don't you and the other priests do work in the Temple on the Sabbath, which is breaking the law, but is allowed?

"I am here to tell you that One who is greater than the Temple is here. 

"If you knew what these words from Hosea in the Scripture meant: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice', you would not have condemned these innocent disciples of mine."

Jesus waited for them to say something. When they didn't He said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. The Son of Man has not only authority to heal and cast out demons, He also has authority over the Sabbath."


I'll tell you more about that next time.

Come back to read the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.