Matthew 12:1-14

About the Text

(1) What is the Sabbath? It is the last day of the week. On that day, Jews do no work, in obedience to the fourth commandment of God's ten commandments. See Exodus
20:8-11.

(1) Why did the Pharisees think it was wrong to "pick heads of grain" on the Sabbath? They considered it as work, which would violate the fourth commandment. But in reality, Jesus' disciples did not violate any commandment at all. In Deut. 23:25, God's law allowed people to pick grain with their hands from their neighbor's field on the Sabbath.

(3) Why does Jesus bring up David and temple priests to defend His case? Jesus was showing how God allowed exceptions to the general rule of not working on the Sabbath. Both David (see 1 Sam 21:1-6) and the temple priests (see Lev. 24:8) were allowed by God to work on the Sabbath. Note that God made such allowances for causes of great importance and for persons of great authority. Jesus too was one of great authority, and claimed that human need was of great importance. Therefore, Jesus proclaimed that it was God's will for us to do works of compassion and necessity on the Sabbath.

(8) What does "Lord of the Sabbath" mean? That Jesus Christ has the authority (Lordship) to know and defme God's will concerning the Sabbath day.

(10) Why did the Pharisees object to healing a man with a shriveled hand, as well as plucking grains on the Sabbath?
Because they did not consider this kind of work urgent. They would have allowed healing if the man was in a life and death situation. They would have also allowed the disciples to pick grain if they were truly starved. But such was not the case. Therefore, the Pharisees ruled that such work was in violation of the Sabbath law.

(14) Why did the Pharisees want to kill Jesus after this incident? Because Jesus exposed the error of their religious ways.



Memory Verses

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:2)

Insights

• People mistakenly equate burdensome rules with godly devotion. (v.1-2)
• Jesus is a God of compassion, not of petty legalism. (v.3-14)

The Bottom Line

Know Jesus, then you will know God's will. Although the law (God's commandments) is good and reveals to us His will, we cannot fully understand that will until we understand God's love and compassion as found in Jesus Christ. His ultimate act of love was to sacrifice His life by dying on the cross, taking away punishment and sin from those who believe. Therefore, out of our gratitude to God for our salvation, we believers must do as Christ did, by having compassion and mercy for all, instead of concerning ourselves with petty man made religious rules and regulations.