By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph. D.
Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Mobile
REJECTING LEGALISM
Matthew 12:1–14
The Sabbath was established by God in creation not because God needed rest but because He was setting a pattern for humanity.
When God established the Mosaic law at Mount Sinai, He wove the Sabbath day into the work schedule of His people. The first presentation of the Ten Commandments connects the Sabbath with creation (Ex. 20:11).
In the wilderness wanderings that were fraught with rebellion and complaints, God took the Sabbath so seriously that He required a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath to be stoned to death for his transgression (Num. 15:32–36).
As the later rabbinic oral law was compiled to form the Talmud, teachers developed specific penalties for breaches of the Sabbath commandment.
Religious Rules (1–2)
The Torah offers provision for the poor, the widow, the fatherless and the strangers dwelling among the Israelites. When grain is harvested, the edges of the field and the gleanings are left for those who have no property so they can gather food to eat (Lev. 19:9–10).
While the grain ripened, passersby were allowed to feed themselves from the field. They would pluck a few grains, rub them between their hands, pick out or blow away the husks and eat the grain.
“Your disciples are doing what is not lawful.” Only the legalistic Pharisees would consider such a practice to be the same as harvesting grain or preparing a meal. The Pharisees described in the Gospel accounts were legalists and professional faultfinders.
Something Greater (3–8)
“Haven’t you read what David did?” When Jesus says the words “haven’t you read,” be prepared to receive instruction from the Old Testament that the elders, scribes and lawyers should have known.
According to the Torah, priests worked on the Sabbath. First Samuel 21:6 records that David ate bread intended only for the priests. Hosea 6:6 prioritizes mercy or love over sacrifice.
Jesus took these scholars back to the Scriptures. The oral law was not authoritative but Jesus’ words were — and are. Our Lord Jesus is the Promised One who is greater than the temple.
Song lyrics and Scripture both illustrate that believers need to be reminded of the Word. “I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest” (“I Love to Tell the Story” by Katherine Hankey).
Amos warned of a coming famine of hearing the words of the Lord (8:11). Peter makes a point that brothers and sisters in Christ need to be reminded of the Word (2 Pet. 1:12–15).
Compassionate Response (9–14)
“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Evidently, they didn’t care about the man with a shriveled hand. The Pharisees asked this question to indict Jesus, but He responded by using an object familiar in the culture.
Perhaps He heard a lamb bleating before giving His answer. If one of your sheep were in a ditch on the Sabbath, would you wait until sundown to get it out? Of course not! A man is more valuable than a sheep, so it is certainly lawful to do good to the man.
Jesus showed compassion to the man and his hand was restored. The Pharisees plotted for Jesus’ death. Their indictment was ultimately recorded in the Babylonian Talmud in Sanhedrin 43a. The sentence was to be death by stoning, but “Yeshu” was hanged from a tree.
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