WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31
Luke 6:1-11
Matthew 15:1-9

“But in vain they do worship me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

THE LORD OF THE SABBATH

The scribes and the Pharisees were adversaries of Jesus. They were always scrutinising Jesus with their watchful eyes. Another opportunity they had was to question Jesus of His disciples plucking with their hands and eating corn on the Sabbath which was prohibited by the Pharisaical law. They adhered very strictly to their unscriptural additions and considered those as obligatory requirements for justification. “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt 15:9). They judged according to their man-made laws rather than the Scriptures.

Jesus declared the Son of man as Lord of the Sabbath. They did not realize they were talking to the God who created the universe in six days and declared a day of rest on the seventh. While the Pharisees were bound to legalism, they rejected the great Lawmaker. “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Rom 10:2-3).

On another Sabbath Jesus healed a man with a paralytic right hand. The scribes and Pharisees kept watching Jesus to accuse Him. When Jesus healed the man, they accused Him of breaking the Sabbath. Jesus knew the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees. He is the Omniscient God and nothing is hid from Him. Jesus exhibited the right kind of work on a Sabbath, love and patience were demonstrated. Jesus was grieved at their unbelief and constant fault-finding. To show His authority as the One who instituted the Sabbath, He demonstrated His power by healing the sick man, and the withered hand was marvelously restored. They should have marveled and believed in Jesus, but their reprobate hearts denied the privilege to understand what Jesus tried to convey to them. Instead of believing in Jesus, the Jewish leaders were furious with the Lord.

THOUGHT: Do I remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy?
PRAYER: O LORD of the Sabbath, help me to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. In the day that Thou hast ordained for me to worship and honour Thee, help me love Thee with all my heart.