Lord of the Sabbath

Bible Study discussions at our church on Wednesday nights are open discussions. We look at the scripture from all angles and interpretations. Last night, we were in Exodus discussing the Sabbath rulings given to the Hebrew people. Okay, so it’s not the most exciting topic, but it led me to a Scripture I don’t think I have ever really considered.
Matthew 12 tells the story of Jesus and his guys walking through a grainfield on the Sabbath. The boys were hungry and started helping themselves, only to be immediately jumped by the Pharisees, who were always lingering nearby.
Jesus reminds them that even their greatest of all time, King David, had broken some rules. Priests also worked on the Sabbath in the temple and were not condemned. Then he makes the following statement:

“6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Wow! It just hit me differently this time. How often, from a conservative Evangelical background, have we told people that they needed to “sacrifice” their Sunday work to please God? Chic-Fil-A has become a conservative icon for that very reason. How often have we condemned the “guiltless” who, for whatever reason, had to work on Sunday?
My point is not that we should all dump the Saturday or Sunday observance of the Sabbath and go get a second job. God instituted the day of rest as a gift of restoration because we need it! Rather, that we line up with the Pharisees when we insist on religious rule conformity and forget to give mercy to those who are struggling.

Jesus then gives an object lesson. He goes into the synagogue, where a man needs healing. Of course, the Pharisees attack again with questions regarding the lawfulness of his healing on Sabbath. I like that their motives are clearly stated “so that they might accuse him.”
Jesus responds that even they would help an animal in danger on the Sabbath. His obvious conclusion is:
“Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.”
Their obvious conclusion was that he was a dangerous radical.
‘But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.”
Matthew continues describing Jesus’ ministry and then quotes one of my favorite prophetic descriptions of the mercy and compassion he revealed:

“This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
Oh Lord of the Sabbath, give us your gentle hands of mercy! Still, our harsh Pharisaical voices that want to quarrel and cry aloud about our rights and righteousness. Forgive us for the times when our rules kept us from healing and feeding the hungry on the Sabbath.

(Painting by Brenna Richardson please do not copy. Prints available at Original Works of Art – rigsby-richardson-gallery (smugmug.com) )