Luke 6:1-16
One sabbath while Jesus was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” 3 Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?”5 Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”
The Man with a Withered Hand
6 On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. 8 Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” He got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles
12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot,16 and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
What does the passage say?
V. 1- 5 Jesus and his disciples were walking through the grainfields, and they picked the kernels to eat. By law, you weren’t able to do any labor, and this was a violation of the law. The Pharisees confront Jesus about this issue, and he answers by saying, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (v. 5 NIV)
V. 6-11 Another conflict regarding keeping the law on Sabbath, erupts between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. There was a man, who had is right hand crippled. Jesus heals this man, and the leaders become furious because Jesus was doing work. Jesus replies by saying, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” (v. 9 NIV)
V. 12-16 After a nightlong prayer, Jesus picks his 12 disciples out of the many who were following him.
What does the passage say to me/us?
Sabbath, which means resting or ceasing, is required for all God’s people to remember who God is. The story we read is called the ‘Sabbath Controversy.’ Jesus is breaking through the paradigm many Jewish leaders were trapped in.
The Jewish leader, in their attempt to be faithful to the fourth commandment of ‘keeping the Sabbath holy,’ they came up with multiple laws regarding the Sabbath. I’ve found out that there were 39 prohibited activities regarding Sabbath day.
Jesus countered what they believed and were practicing. Jesus is telling them that what we need to do is abstain from these certain activities for us to remember the Lordship of our God. However, when the Lord himself is with us, there were no need for them to be bound by the law.
Jesus then tells them that they should focus on following what God is asking them to do. It will be stopping from living in a lifestyle for themselves, and focusing on God’s will. He says, “Let me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?” (v. 9 The Message)
I do what us to ask ourselves, how we are keeping the Sabbath. Are we bound by the law, and missing out what is needed to be done to focus on God’s will? Or are we completely ignorant of the purpose of Sabbath and so used to have this day for ourselves?
It is interesting to see a list of permitted activities on the Sabbath.
Permitted Activities
The following activities are encouraged on Shabbat:
Spending Shabbat together with one’s own immediate family;
Temple attendance for prayers;
Visiting family and friends (within walking distance);
Hosting guests (hachnasat orchim, “hospitality”);
Singing zemirot, special songs for the Shabbat.
Reading, studying and discussing Torah and commentary, Mishnah and Talmud, learning some Halakha and Midrash.
According to Reform Judaism “one should avoid one’s normal occupation or profession on Shabbat whenever possible and engage only in those types of activities that enhance the joy, rest, and holiness of the day.” – Excerpt of The 39 Prohibited Sabbath Activities.
Let us Pray
Lord, help us to keep your Sabbath holy. Help us to live in this world, as holy people of God. Allow us to discern your ways to keep this Sabbath holy. Not to be bound by the law, but also not to be bound by our will.
In your name we pray, AMEN
What are your thoughts?
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