Matthew 12:1-8 Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

The sabbath is a holy convocation of God's people every seventh day. No work is to be performed on this day. The purpose of the sabbath day is to find rest in God - not just physically, but also spiritually. The sabbath day is a sign. A sign is an event that points to a reality. The sabbath day points to the reality that God is Creator of all things and he is the one who sustains all things - not our work. When we observe it, we worship our God as Creator and Sustainer of the universe and find rest for our lives in him. The sabbath day also points to the reality that we are God's people, sanctified and holy (separated from the world and consecrated to him). For these reasons, God made it law. It is the fourth commandment.

Unfortunately, the law that was intended to give us rest has been twisted to burden us. The law that was given to serve was turned upside down to enslave. The Pharisees were experts on this. Instead of looking at the sabbath as a gift and an opportunity to worship, they turned it into a long list of rules and regulations that burdened God's people. On this occasion, the Pharisees accuse the Lord and his disciples of working on the sabbath as they plucked grain from a grain field to eat. The owners of grain fields, according to the law, would leave some of their harvest available for the poor and the widows to pluck so they could survive - they were not stealing!

Jesus cites two cases in the Old Testament that are precedents for an exception. David and his soldiers ate the bread of the presence from the temple on a sabbath. This bread was an offering to the Lord. The other case is the exercise of the priesthood which demands duties to be performed on the sabbath in service to God's people. Both cases were sanctioned by God. Jesus explains that he is lord of the sabbath. He established his authority and identity as the Son of God by sanctioning the feeding of his disciples on the sabbath day.

Jesus points to a principle to help me judge what is God's will: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." Mercy is to show love and compassion to those who deserve judgment and condemnation. Sacrifice summarizes the attitude of a heartless, insincere, and mechanical ritual devoid of love and compassion. The Pharisees offered sacrifice, but no mercy. I definitely want to live day by day by the principle of mercy.

One day a week is a prescription to maintain my physical and spiritual health. When I twist my prescription into a display of my personal performance, I neither rest nor worship. Lord, help me set aside the busyness of life one day a week to worship you and find my rest in you. Protect me from burnout and exhaustion to be efficient and effective in the work of my calling. Help me live by the principle of mercy and even use the sabbath day to extend mercy to those around me when required.