Luke 6:1-11
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
6 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Reflection:
As we read this passage we must remember that the Sabbath, celebrated from sundown on Friday to Saturday, was at the heart of the Jewish faith life. There are 39 creative activities in modern day Judaism that are prohibited on the Sabbath, and they are grouped according to broad categories such as: the ordering of bread, garments, hides and construction. Of course what they are trying to define is what is "work"? Rabbi's have made note of activities associated with these categories that also violate the Sabbath such as the following:
Adding fresh water to a vase of cut flowers (sowing--any activity that causes or furthers plant growth).
Making a bouquet of flowers (making a sheaf).
Removing good fruit from spoiled fruit (winnowing, selecting, sifting).
Brushing dried mud from boots or clothes (grinding).
Adding cold milk directly to hot tea or coffee (baking-cooking in any form, including adding ingredients to a boiling pot).
Cutting hair or nails (shearing sheep-removing outer covering of a human or animal).
Applying makeup (dyeing).
Braiding hair (weaving).
Drawing blood for a blood test (slaughtering).
Rubbing soap to make lather, applying face cream, polishing shoes, using scouring powder for utensils or other surfaces (scraping-smoothing the surface of any material by grinding, rubbing, or polishing).
Sharpening a pencil (cutting to shape-altering the size or shape of an item to make it better for human use).
Painting, drawing, typing (writing, making durable marks on a durable material).
Tearing through lettering on a package (erasing).
Opening an umbrella or unfolding a screen (building).
Smoking a cigarette, using the telephone (kindling a fire).
Switching off an electric light (extinguishing a fire).
Setting or winding a clock or watch (finishing off).
Wearing eyeglasses not permanently required (carrying from private to public domain and vice versa).
So one can see why Jesus has such a conflict with the rabbi's on the Sabbath. So much so that even the healing of a man was prohibited on the Sabbath. As we might say it seems as if they can't see the forest through the trees.
So the question might arise, just why did God make obeying the Sabbath the third commandment? Here are some thoughts about this. Since this commandment is grouped with the first three commandments, which all deal with the worship of God, I think it should considered in this light. Honoring the Sabbath each week is related to how we worship God and order our lives around him. The Sabbath should be the center of our life from which our lives flow.
Second I believe it has a lot do to with the role of work in our lives. I think most people could agree that most Americans work too hard and too long. This has proven negative effects on one's health, one's family and friends and also one's relationship with God. And what drives people to work so hard. Some of it might be providing for one's family, as of course there is a legitimate purpose for work. But a lot of working 50, 60, and 70 hours a week is driven by materialism, power, status, and fear.
Simply put the Sabbath puts a priority on our relationship with God and the ones we love, as over and against the pursuit of things. One can see in the climate we live in how badly a proper understanding of the Sabbath is needed. If it seems the Jews took the Sabbath too far, I think we can say we can not taken it far at all.
So what can we do?
1. Consistently worship God on a weekly basis. Make it a priority. In our culture this day is usually Sunday, but I don't think the day matters as much as we actually do it.
2. Take time to worship God, completely rest from work, and nourish your primary relationships. If you are constantly checking your cell phone for work or emails, there is a good chance you need the Sabbath more than the next person.
3. Find time with your family to talk about your faith and share what God is doing in your life. Pray together. Play together. Laugh together.
I don't know about you but I think we badly need this commandment in this day. Jesus realized the worship of God was at the heart of the Sabbath, but that didn't preclude him from doing things that honored the people God created. This is the balance as we remember Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, not man made for the Sabbath.
6 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Reflection:
As we read this passage we must remember that the Sabbath, celebrated from sundown on Friday to Saturday, was at the heart of the Jewish faith life. There are 39 creative activities in modern day Judaism that are prohibited on the Sabbath, and they are grouped according to broad categories such as: the ordering of bread, garments, hides and construction. Of course what they are trying to define is what is "work"? Rabbi's have made note of activities associated with these categories that also violate the Sabbath such as the following:
Adding fresh water to a vase of cut flowers (sowing--any activity that causes or furthers plant growth).
Making a bouquet of flowers (making a sheaf).
Removing good fruit from spoiled fruit (winnowing, selecting, sifting).
Brushing dried mud from boots or clothes (grinding).
Adding cold milk directly to hot tea or coffee (baking-cooking in any form, including adding ingredients to a boiling pot).
Cutting hair or nails (shearing sheep-removing outer covering of a human or animal).
Applying makeup (dyeing).
Braiding hair (weaving).
Drawing blood for a blood test (slaughtering).
Rubbing soap to make lather, applying face cream, polishing shoes, using scouring powder for utensils or other surfaces (scraping-smoothing the surface of any material by grinding, rubbing, or polishing).
Sharpening a pencil (cutting to shape-altering the size or shape of an item to make it better for human use).
Painting, drawing, typing (writing, making durable marks on a durable material).
Tearing through lettering on a package (erasing).
Opening an umbrella or unfolding a screen (building).
Smoking a cigarette, using the telephone (kindling a fire).
Switching off an electric light (extinguishing a fire).
Setting or winding a clock or watch (finishing off).
Wearing eyeglasses not permanently required (carrying from private to public domain and vice versa).
So one can see why Jesus has such a conflict with the rabbi's on the Sabbath. So much so that even the healing of a man was prohibited on the Sabbath. As we might say it seems as if they can't see the forest through the trees.
So the question might arise, just why did God make obeying the Sabbath the third commandment? Here are some thoughts about this. Since this commandment is grouped with the first three commandments, which all deal with the worship of God, I think it should considered in this light. Honoring the Sabbath each week is related to how we worship God and order our lives around him. The Sabbath should be the center of our life from which our lives flow.
Second I believe it has a lot do to with the role of work in our lives. I think most people could agree that most Americans work too hard and too long. This has proven negative effects on one's health, one's family and friends and also one's relationship with God. And what drives people to work so hard. Some of it might be providing for one's family, as of course there is a legitimate purpose for work. But a lot of working 50, 60, and 70 hours a week is driven by materialism, power, status, and fear.
Simply put the Sabbath puts a priority on our relationship with God and the ones we love, as over and against the pursuit of things. One can see in the climate we live in how badly a proper understanding of the Sabbath is needed. If it seems the Jews took the Sabbath too far, I think we can say we can not taken it far at all.
So what can we do?
1. Consistently worship God on a weekly basis. Make it a priority. In our culture this day is usually Sunday, but I don't think the day matters as much as we actually do it.
2. Take time to worship God, completely rest from work, and nourish your primary relationships. If you are constantly checking your cell phone for work or emails, there is a good chance you need the Sabbath more than the next person.
3. Find time with your family to talk about your faith and share what God is doing in your life. Pray together. Play together. Laugh together.
I don't know about you but I think we badly need this commandment in this day. Jesus realized the worship of God was at the heart of the Sabbath, but that didn't preclude him from doing things that honored the people God created. This is the balance as we remember Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, not man made for the Sabbath.
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