Matthew 12:1 – At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”
3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) 11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus. (NLT)
Opinions about ‘proper’ observance of the Sabbath have been dividing God’s people for thousands of years. These divisions continues today. In this passage, Jesus is specifically ‘doing good’, but just what is and is not good to do on the Sabbath? My wife, Lisa, and I enjoy working in our yard. Lisa has a wonderful knack for arranging flower gardens. I enjoy helping her. It is something that we enjoy together, and it brings us closer to God as we work with God’s beauty in nature. However, I have been questioned by good church people as to why we would work in our gardens on a Sunday! No one seems to question good church people who sit in front of the television watching football and drinking beer on a Sunday, but oh the horror of working in the flower gardens!
To answer the age-old question of what is and is not good to do on a Sabbath, let us consider what Jesus said in Mark 2:27 – “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (NIV) The Sabbath is God’s gift to us. It is a day to draw closer to God. It is a day to honor God. However, as a Christian, is not everyday a day to draw closer to God? Is not everyday a day to honor God? Of course! As Christians, we must not seek to compartmentalize our relationship with God. We are not to live in any way that we desire for six days a week and then remember God on the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is a gift from God. We should take full advantage of this gift. We live in a busy society, and we need a Sabbath to slow down. We need a Sabbath not only to honor God, but to rest. Rest is different for different people. For my wife and I, working in our flower gardens is restful. It renews our spirits. For others, rest comes from a hike in the woods, and for some it may come from sitting on the back porch while enjoying the beauty of the day. I know some good folks who enjoy going to the homes of the elderly and helping them with household chores on their Sabbath. It renews their spirit!
When is your Sabbath? Personally, I work fairly hard on a Sunday! I’m at church by 7 am, and there are some Sunday’s in which I don’t get home until late in the evening. Those days are not very restful, and my spirit can be drained after a fourteen-hour day, but I do make sure that I take a Sabbath. Whenever your Sabbath is, it is important to take a Sabbath for it is God’s gift to us.
Today, honor God in all you do. You may be working hard today but look forward to the Sabbath that God has in store for you!
Posted by Ramón Torres
Great post. Thank you,
Beautifully said and a great reminder to not compartmentalize our relationship with our creator!