Sabbath Part III

30. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is as follows: 

Matthew 12:6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. 15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, 16 warning them not to tell who he was. 

Today, Jesus gives another example as to why it is necessary to do acts of mercy and compassion on the Sabbath.   In our text above, Jesus clearly indicates to the ones that are challenging him that what he requires is mercy and not sacrifice.   

The religious leaders allowed work to be done on the Sabbath as long as it had to do with offering sacrifices up to God. Jesus is clear that God would rather have preferred that people show acts of mercy rather than sacrifice.   This statement is so powerful to me.     

Too often, we get caught up in the “politics” of church when all God really asks is that we be kind to one another and show compassion even at the expense of violating a  man made interpretation of the law.  The spirit of the law concerning the Sabbath never meant for it to exclude acts of mercy and compassion.   

You will see in our text that from that time forward, the Pharisees begin their plot to kill Jesus over this “violation” of the Sabbath. 

Stay encouraged. 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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