2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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THE LORD HEALING ON THE SABBATH
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9
Luke 6:1-11; Matthew 12:1-13; Mark 2:23-3:5
Matthew 23:15-24
“The Sabbath was
made for man.”
THE LORD HEALING ON THE SABBATH
Our Lord freed the sabbath from incorrect interpretations and purified it from man-made traditions. He stripped off the miserable traditions with which the Pharisees had encrusted the day, and by which they had made it a burden rather than a blessing.
Our Lord allows all works of real necessity and mercy to be done on the sabbath day, a principle which is abundantly established in today’s Bible passages. We find our Lord justifying His disciples for plucking ears of corns on a sabbath. It was an act permitted in Scripture (Deut 23:25). They were hungry and in need of food and therefore not to be blamed (Matt 12:1). We find Him maintaining the lawfulness of healing a sick man on the sabbath day. The man was suffering from disease and pain. In such a case, it was no breach of God’s commandment to afford relief. We ought never to rest from doing good.
The arguments by which our Lord supports the lawfulness of any work of necessity and mercy on the Sabbath are striking and unanswerable. He reminds the Pharisees, who charged Him and His disciples with breaking the law, of the actions of David (Luke 6:3-4), of priests in the temple (Matt 12:5) and of their own care for animals (Matt 12:11). Above all, He lays down the great principle that no ordinance of God is to be pressed so far as to make us neglect the plain duties of charity (Luke 6:9; Matt 12:7). The first table of the law is not to be interpreted so as to make us break the second. The fourth commandment is not to be so explained as to make us unkind and unmerciful to our neighbour.
Our Lord again shows His perfect knowledge of men’s thoughts (Luke 6:8). It belongs only to God to read hearts. He who could discern the secret intents and imaginations of others must have been more than man. No doubt He was man like ourselves, sin only excepted. But there are other texts in Scripture which prove our Lord was God as well as man. Our Lord’s perfect knowledge should always exercise a humbling influence upon our souls. Jesus Christ reads our hearts.
THOUGHT: Zeal for truth must be matched with love for others.
PRAYER: Father, may I treasure Thy truth and love even my enemies.