July 6 - July 12: Lord of the Sabbath (7)

SACRED ALTARS AND HOLY GIFTS

Unit II: Jesus and the Temple (4 lessons)

7. Lord of the Sabbath (lesson 2 of 4)

Daily Bible Meditations by Ruth Burdick

Sunday, July 6: Deuteronomy 5:1-7, 12-15

God gave His commandments on Mount Sinai for all of His people to learn and obey. They were to love the Lord God as long as they lived by keeping them. On the seventh day of Creation, God rested and gave us the blessed Sabbath Day to keep as a day of remembrance to the Creator. We are to keep it holy as He is holy until we share His final rest in eternity. In Deuteronomy the next generation of Israelites recommitted themselves to the commandments and covenant given to their fathers, and the Sabbath here celebrates God as the Redeemer of His people, as well as the Creator.

Monday, July 7: Hebrews 4:1-10

"We who have believed" (v.3) in Jesus are the ones to enter the permanent Sabbath rest God has prepared for His people, "if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end" (Hebrews 3:14, ESV). So, let us strive to enter it (v.11) through persistence in our faith in Jesus in whom our sins are forgiven. Let us live holy lives in the Spirit until our eternal rest begins and we rest from our work in this world, as God did from His in creating it. Each weekly Sabbath points to (and gives a foretaste of) that sharing with God the rest He then began.

Tuesday, July 8: John 7:14-24

Jesus' teaching was not really His own, He said, but came from the Father who sent Him. Anyone who truly desired to do God's will would recognize that. In every way, Jesus sought to do the Father's will. It was His main purpose. Yet the Jewish leaders accused Him of breaking the Sabbath, when in fact it was only their man-made rules for the Sabbath He broke. In no case did Jesus ever break any Old Testament Sabbath law, and clearly the Son was doing His Father's will when He did wonderful things like make a man's whole body well on the Sabbath (John 5:1-15)!

Wednesday, July 9: Psalm 92

What a lovely, joyful Psalm this is for giving honor and praise to our God Most High! One could easily put it to their own music and sing it in worship. When I attended summer camp growing up, our leaders encouraged us to do this in our alone time. It was an awesome way to worship outside on the lake shore. In this psalm, God keeps reminding us that whether we are alone on the shore of the lake or gathered in the assembly, we need to lift our hearts in holy worship before God with singing, good teaching, and praising and prayer. Praise God from whom all Blessings flow!

Thursday, July 10: Luke 13:10-17

When Jesus was teaching at the synagogue one Sabbath, He saw an older woman with a humped back. He had compassion for her and healed her infirmity. She straightened up and praised God, but what the ruler of the synagogue did was reprimand Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. In reply Jesus pointed out how each of them in that congregation would do what was necessary to water their animals on the Sabbath. So, why should Jesus not meet a more urgent need and for a human being and a daughter of Abraham!? That should certainly have caused everyone (and us) to rethink their Sabbath priorities in light of God's compassion and love.

Friday, July 11: 1 Samuel 21:1-6

As David was fleeing from Saul, God provided for him and his men through the mercy of the priest Ahimelech, who gave David the only bread he had - the consecrated bread of the Presence. According to the Law, this bread was only to be eaten by the priests (Leviticus 24:9), but Ahimelech made an exception to meet the need of these men. Jesus would later approve of this and use it to illustrate how the Law was not meant to be used unmercifully (Matthew 12:7). Ahimelech soon paid a severe price at the hand of King Saul for doing this (1 Samuel 22:11-19). Are you willing to pay a price for acts of mercy?

Sabbath, July 12: Matthew 12:1-8

The Pharisees said Jesus' disciples were doing what was unlawful on the Sabbath when, being hungry, they plucked heads of grain to eat from the fields. Perhaps they could style this as "harvesting" on the Sabbath. Jesus referred them to the time when David and his men were not condemned in Scripture for breaking the Law by eating the Bread of the Presence. Jesus was teaching them that the Law was never meant to obstruct the meeting of a human need, like hunger, since God desires mercy and not sacrifice. Does your Sabbath-keeping prioritize mercy as Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, taught that it should?

Reading:

Studay: Matthew 12:1-8

Background: Matthew 12:1-14; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-11

Devotional: Luke 13:10-17

Key Verse:

But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here (Matthew 12:6).

Heart of the Lesson:

People legitimize the authority of institutions. When is it appropriate to question this authority? During the discourse of plucking grain on the Sabbath, Jesus declared that His authority superseded that of the Temple.

Questions for Studying the Text:

1. Are you more of a "rule follower" or a "question authority" kind of person? How do you justify this in light of Scripture?
2. What was the significance of the Sabbath in Jewish law and tradition (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15)? How did the Pharisees interpret and enforce the Sabbath regulations? Why were the Pharisees so strict about Sabbath observance? Were they more focused on obedience or control?
3. Why were Jesus and His disciples walking through grainfields and plucking heads of grain? What does this tell us about their circumstances? How does 1 Samuel 21:1-6 support Jesus' response to the Pharisees?
4. How did Jesus redefine the purpose of the Sabbath in this passage? How does Jesus' statement in verse 6 challenge the religious leaders' view of the Temple and their author- ity? What did Jesus mean when He called Himself "Lord of the Sabbath" (v.8)? How does Mark 2:27-28 add to our understanding of this passage?
5. Have you ever prioritized religious rituals over showing mercy to others? How can you shift your focus to align more with Jesus' teaching? How can you show compassion and mercy to someone this week in a way that reflects Jesus' teaching?

Understanding and Living by Ewart McFarlane

Origins of Sabbath-keeping

On a "blue-sky" day, it is quite easy for people to go about their daily activities unimpeded. The arrival and departure times for the bus or train might have been well known to many, as well as the time it takes to get to the next destination. Whenever there is a storm however, many things become uncertain, and either adjustments will have to be made to get to your destination on time, or it is agreed or accepted that you will be late.

When Sabbath observance was given to the Israelites, they were living in a blue-sky situation. Living in a nomadic lifestyle as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land, strict observance of the Sabbath was possible. Other than packing up their tents on travel days, their main role was to collect the daily provision of manna, and twice the daily provision on the sixth day because there would be none available on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:22). There were no nine to five jobs nor rotating shifts that would prevent Sabbath obser- vance; there was no need to attend conferences or seminars; and there was no need to travel to church or worship services any distance away from home.

Once settled in the land of Canaan, the Israelites' nomadic lifestyle changed to one of farming, herding, and trading. The priests and Levites were assigned the responsibility for round-the-clock service (Exodus 28:4; Numbers 18:6). Later, the kings assembled servants, horsemen, and soldiers at his disposal (1 Samuel 8:10-16). And so, life became much different from when the Sabbath observance was first given, as work in the kings' service was ongoing. At the same time, people continued to turn from the Lord as their hearts became deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:5 & 9).

Limitations of Rules and Institutions

Sometimes, because of rules and institutions, people are given labels that are not characteristic of who they truly are. In coming to preach the gospel to the poor and the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:18-19), to convince mankind of their sins, and to implore them to seek the Kingdom of God, Jesus needed to travel far accomplish this mission. His journey not only took him wide and far along the coasts of Israel, but resulted in Him travelling on the Sabbath day, along with His disciples. These journeys gave rise to basic necessities needing to be catered to. The disciples, in trying to fill a basic need in furtherance of their support of Jesus' ministry, plucked grain to eat, which they would not have normally done on the Sabbath day (Matthew 12:1).

The "Rule Keepers" (Pharisees) were quick to point out the breaking of the commandment, without giving regard for the reason why it was done. Jesus had to point out that there were limitations in the application of the laws, as the disciples were about doing good. For while the Sabbath was meant to be a day of rest (and worship), doing things that lead to mercy, kindness, and love for humanity are allowed (v.7).

Another time, Jesus chided the Pharisees, "[Y]ou pay tithes of mint, rue, and every kind of garden herb, and yet you ignore justice and the love of God" (Luke 11:42). This does not mean one must reserve those "neces- sary" things to be done only on Sabbath, but to strike a balance where neither is neglected. By citing mercy, justice, and the love of God, Jesus was showing that rules can have exceptions, and that it is better to do good than to abide by the letter of the law to the detriment of others or oneself, even on the Sabbath (v.12). To keep the Sabbath, as to show mercy and justice, must be a conviction of faith.

Convictions of Faith

Keeping the Sabbath provides rest and rejuvenation from routine weekly activities. Keeping the Sabbath allows us to have renewed focus on worshipping our Creator and Maker. Keeping the Sabbath allows us to fellowship with other believers who enjoy rest, rejuvenation, and worship of Almighty God (Hebrews 10:25). Keeping the Sabbath must therefore be a conviction of faith, and not of compulsion, much like anything else we choose to do - as the Apostle Paul reminds us whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:22-23).

One must be convinced that the actions they take on a daily basis are consistent with their beliefs. Jesus considered the disciples innocent for the actions they took that were contrary to subsidiary rules imposed that spelled out what was and was not permissible on the Sabbath (v.7). How does one decide to follow rules or laws, or engage in social norms today? Do you feel compelled to subscribe to these rules or norms? Or are you comfortable with the choices you have made? Jesus showed that the choices we make, while they cannot contradict God's Word, should not be only about following the rules. We must be convinced that they are good, right, and just. Paul emphasized this by saying "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" for whatever decision we make (Romans 14:5, KJV).

Greater Than the Temple

The Temple was the focal point of worship for the Israelites, for in it sat the Ark of the Covenant, which represented the presence of God. Jesus demonstrated that as Lord of the Sabbath, He was also greater than the Temple. It is not to be assumed that Jesus took issue with Sabbath observance. In fact, after leaving the Pharisees, He went into the synagogue, as was His custom, and healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day (Matthew 12:10). It was the custom of the Pharisees, who appeared to make Sabbath observance more onerous than it needed to be, with which He took issue.

While customs can help to inculcate valuable and useful life lessons to successive generations, Jesus was making it known that customs should not get in the way of true worship of Almighty God. Customs should not add any greater burden than is necessary for true worship (Acts 15:28). Jesus was conveying that true worship involves mercy, justice, and the love of God. True worship makes us display hearts of mercy, kindness, and compassion. The love of God constrains us to attend to the needs of our brothers and sisters. The least we do for others, regardless of the day of the week, we do unto the Lord.

Hints for Teaching:

Lesson Goals:

1. Discern how Jesus' teachings and actions help us see the limitations of rules and institutions. 
2. Assess our convictions of faith as pertains to today's laws and social norms.
3. Interpret and implement Jesus' guidance as it relates to expressions of religious observance in our own churches.

Teaching Activity:

In small groups, study the meanings of these words: Mercy (Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:6-8, Mat- thew 23:23); Sacrifice (Leviticus 1-7, Psalm 51:16-17). Groups should report their findings, and as a class discuss: Why did Jesus prioritize mercy? Present modern-day situations where people follow rules strictly but neglect compassion. Have students discuss: How would Jesus respond? Encourage them to share personal experiences where they had to choose between rules and showing mercy.

Looking Forward:

Jesus' challenge of Pharisees' authority and the Temple encouraged us to pursue the spirit rather than the letter of the Law. Next, Jesus' zealous reverence for the Temple will challenge us to commit to lives of reverence to God.