Matthew 12:8
“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
This is great. Jesus said this after the pharisees saw the disciples picking grain while walking through a field and eating it. They claimed it was illegal as it constituted work which they saw as violating the Sabbath. Jesus gave an example of David eating the show bread which was meant for the priests. David was famished having fled from Saul’s pursuers. Both of these instances appear to be breaking the law, but Jesus doesn’t agree. Mark 2:27 says, ‘Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”‘
How do we interpret this? The Sabbath was meant to be a blessing. We were meant to cease from labor to be refreshed. That’s the intent. However, if one is hungry and would be refreshed by eating grain, then eat it. That fits with the spirit of the law.
After this verse Jesus heals someone on the Sabbath. The pharisees get angry again. Jesus challenges this again by saying they would rescue their animal on the Sabbath if an emergency. He makes the point, “It’s ok to do good on the Sabbath.”
When I first came to Christ I was bound up with much guilt. The church I was raised in didn’t understand grace. It took years for that to be erased. It was God’s grace in the Bible which did that. 2 Corinthians 9:7 was one of the big verses that helped, “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.” Much of my serving was out of guilt, not out of choice. That was a game changer.
The pharisees had much of it wrong. They missed Jesus, their messiah. More than that they had him put to death. That’s what not getting it looks like. Yes, it was sad, but Jesus had to die and pay for sins. That’s why we don’t lean on our own understanding. We need God and His instruction book, the bible.
He is lord of the Sabbath. Awesome. There’s a new sheriff in town. We don’t need to be afraid. Be a sheep and follow Him. John 10:26 says, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” What’s His voice like? Matthew 11:28-30 tells us, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” That doesn’t sound like a tirent.
Thank You, Lord. We don’t need to be afraid. You’re a good Shepherd.