Luke 6:1-11. The Lord of the Sabbath.
Pastor Nam Park.
As a physician, Luke is writing his gospel in an order that presents a certain argument, not necessarily in chronological order. The argument of: Who Jesus Christ is.
Luke 1:3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
Luke appropriately arranges two narratives on Sabbath keeping.
Is Jesus a Sabbath keeper?
Jesus is here trying to teach that it's not about formulating convictions yourself and making others follow your convictions. Rather, it's about grace and truth.
John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
Luke 6:1 Now it happened that He was passing through some grainfields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?” 5 And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Pastor Nam Park.
As a physician, Luke is writing his gospel in an order that presents a certain argument, not necessarily in chronological order. The argument of: Who Jesus Christ is.
Luke 1:3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
Luke appropriately arranges two narratives on Sabbath keeping.
Is Jesus a Sabbath keeper?
Jesus is here trying to teach that it's not about formulating convictions yourself and making others follow your convictions. Rather, it's about grace and truth.
John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
Luke 6:1 Now it happened that He was passing through some grainfields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?” 5 And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
6 On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. 8 But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” 10 After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. 11 But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
Not just keeping the external show, but remembering the mercy that was extended to us through the grace of Jesus Christ. We are to exemplify Christ by living with grace and truth.
Luke 6:2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
- "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Yet, there is provision that you can eat from your neighbor's farm.
Deuteronomy 23:24-25 “When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, then you may eat grapes until you are fully satisfied, but you shall not put any in your basket.
The problem was eating/working on the Sabbath.
God rested on the Sabbath, not because He was tired, but it was to be an example to us. The Sabbath was a consecrated day; set-apart unto the Lord.
Personal convictions are good. Yet when you place your convictions upon someone else, the concept of Grace vanishes. This is what the pharisees were doing, placing their laws and convictions upon others.
"picking the heads of grain" - YOU ARE REAPING!?!?
"rubbing them in their hands" - YOU ARE THRESHING!?!?
"and eating the grain." - YOU ARE PREPARING FOOD!?!?
2 Timothy 3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Luke 3:3 And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?”
- Implied that everyone knows this story. The 12 pieces of breads is placed there next to God's presence, one for each tribe. Reminder that our sustenance comes from God. Every Sabbath it is replaced. Scripture doesn't condemn David here.
- Jesus thus implies that there are moments when human need should supersede legalistic tendencies. To say to others that we have something that YOU CAN'T HAVE is incompatible with the grace God shows us.
Matthew 12:6 But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
- The Lord desires a contrite heart from those that believe.
Micah 6:6
Not just keeping the external show, but remembering the mercy that was extended to us through the grace of Jesus Christ. We are to exemplify Christ by living with grace and truth.
Luke 6:2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
- "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Yet, there is provision that you can eat from your neighbor's farm.
Deuteronomy 23:24-25 “When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, then you may eat grapes until you are fully satisfied, but you shall not put any in your basket.
25 “When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor’s standing grain.
- Farmer Brown should have an understanding that God has provided all food and thus, is able to share with others as they are in the field. The problem was eating/working on the Sabbath.
God rested on the Sabbath, not because He was tired, but it was to be an example to us. The Sabbath was a consecrated day; set-apart unto the Lord.
Personal convictions are good. Yet when you place your convictions upon someone else, the concept of Grace vanishes. This is what the pharisees were doing, placing their laws and convictions upon others.
"picking the heads of grain" - YOU ARE REAPING!?!?
"rubbing them in their hands" - YOU ARE THRESHING!?!?
"and eating the grain." - YOU ARE PREPARING FOOD!?!?
2 Timothy 3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Luke 3:3 And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?”
- Implied that everyone knows this story. The 12 pieces of breads is placed there next to God's presence, one for each tribe. Reminder that our sustenance comes from God. Every Sabbath it is replaced. Scripture doesn't condemn David here.
- Jesus thus implies that there are moments when human need should supersede legalistic tendencies. To say to others that we have something that YOU CAN'T HAVE is incompatible with the grace God shows us.
Matthew 12:6 But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
- The Lord desires a contrite heart from those that believe.
Micah 6:6
With what shall I come to the Lord
And bow myself before the God on high?
Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings,
With yearling calves?
7 Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams,
In ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
- The Lord doesn't take delight in burnt offerings. God desires us to walk humbly, to walk justly. The scriptures say that our relation to the Lord should be of such value that it affects the way we interact with other men.
Listen, when David needed help, we didn't keep ritual and have him die.
Luke 6:5 And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
- "Son of Man" is what Christ uses to refer to Himself. A Messianic title. AKA: "the Lord is more significant than the Sabbath."
We are natural legalist. We judge others by the doing or the not doing. And we can easily miss the entire point of the grace of God in our lives. In our homes, in our churches, in our evangelism. Make the grace of God evident in your interactions.
It is not about keeping ritual keeping. More important is the Son of Man.
The Lord however keeps ritual of the Sabbath and goes to the Synagogue.
If love is lacking, usually you still play the part. That is natural because we are legalist at heart.
Luke 6:6 On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
- Luke emphasizes that the hand was the RIGHT hand. "Withered" like a dying plant.
This is an opportunity of grace and compassion.
Is Jesus capable? YES.
Is Jesus willing? YES.
Luke 6:7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him.
- These pharisees are watching Jesus out of the corner of their eye, to see if they healed on the Sabbath. They wanted to catch Him in the act of healing. Would He break the Sabbath?
Jesus then puts the man in the center.
Public and clear.
Luke 6:8 But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” 10 After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. 11 But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
- Controversial b/c Peter's mother-in-law was DEATHLY ill; casting out of the demon is URGENT and essential. However, mundane stuff was not included else this healing would be considered work. They would cast judgement.
Normally, we try not to do bad. Yet when we have opportunity, we should take it to do GOOD.
The grace of God should influence us to have compassion on ALL, including the Samaritans... etc.
As a Christian, there should be a pricking of your conscience to help a brother in need.
Helping was NOT a neutral act. Not helping would be a sin here.
Luke connects the character of the new man (new wine in the old wine skin).
In Luke's account, it looks like Jesus passively looks around.
Yet in the parallel passage:
Mark 3:5 After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
- They made Jesus angry. That they didn't have concern for their brother and his hand.
The Pharisees were filled with mindless rage because Jesus masterfully healed in such a way that they couldn't convict Him of healing.
Teach us that mandate to live with truth and graciousness, to affect this world for great things. That we would leave the impression of Jesus Christ with those we interact with. May it never be said that we were not loving and gracious. May we not force the grace of God into old wine skins of legalism and ritual. Let us be like our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
- The Lord doesn't take delight in burnt offerings. God desires us to walk humbly, to walk justly. The scriptures say that our relation to the Lord should be of such value that it affects the way we interact with other men.
Listen, when David needed help, we didn't keep ritual and have him die.
Luke 6:5 And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
- "Son of Man" is what Christ uses to refer to Himself. A Messianic title. AKA: "the Lord is more significant than the Sabbath."
We are natural legalist. We judge others by the doing or the not doing. And we can easily miss the entire point of the grace of God in our lives. In our homes, in our churches, in our evangelism. Make the grace of God evident in your interactions.
It is not about keeping ritual keeping. More important is the Son of Man.
The Lord however keeps ritual of the Sabbath and goes to the Synagogue.
If love is lacking, usually you still play the part. That is natural because we are legalist at heart.
Luke 6:6 On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
- Luke emphasizes that the hand was the RIGHT hand. "Withered" like a dying plant.
This is an opportunity of grace and compassion.
Is Jesus capable? YES.
Is Jesus willing? YES.
Luke 6:7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him.
- These pharisees are watching Jesus out of the corner of their eye, to see if they healed on the Sabbath. They wanted to catch Him in the act of healing. Would He break the Sabbath?
Jesus then puts the man in the center.
Public and clear.
Luke 6:8 But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” 10 After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. 11 But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
- Controversial b/c Peter's mother-in-law was DEATHLY ill; casting out of the demon is URGENT and essential. However, mundane stuff was not included else this healing would be considered work. They would cast judgement.
Normally, we try not to do bad. Yet when we have opportunity, we should take it to do GOOD.
The grace of God should influence us to have compassion on ALL, including the Samaritans... etc.
As a Christian, there should be a pricking of your conscience to help a brother in need.
Helping was NOT a neutral act. Not helping would be a sin here.
James 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Luke connects the character of the new man (new wine in the old wine skin).
In Luke's account, it looks like Jesus passively looks around.
Yet in the parallel passage:
Mark 3:5 After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
- They made Jesus angry. That they didn't have concern for their brother and his hand.
The Pharisees were filled with mindless rage because Jesus masterfully healed in such a way that they couldn't convict Him of healing.
Teach us that mandate to live with truth and graciousness, to affect this world for great things. That we would leave the impression of Jesus Christ with those we interact with. May it never be said that we were not loving and gracious. May we not force the grace of God into old wine skins of legalism and ritual. Let us be like our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
