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In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ. Two Sabbath Controversies May 3 rd , 2009. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info. Conflicts with Judaism. Luke 6:1-5
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In The Footsteps Of The Master:The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Two Sabbath Controversies May 3rd , 2009 www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Conflicts with Judaism • Luke 6:1-5 • On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grain fields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?". www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Luke 6:1-5 • 3And Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" 5And he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Waiting to Pounce • Pharisees were lying in wait • They thought that they had Him here. • Jesus was allowing His Disciples to eat hand picked grain on the Sabbath which was to do work on the Sabbath • They were harvesting, air, all clear violations of Sabbath laws. • Read Exodus 34:21 • 21 "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
Original Intent • What had started out to be a day of Rest and Refreshment for man and beast • Had become a day of bondage where people were so confused about what they could and couldn’t do • The Pharisees had made the Sabbath Day miserable • Lets look at 20 plus chapters of what to do and not to do www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Mishna • First written recording of the Oral Torah of the Jewish people • Has 24 chapters on the Sabbath • "Selecting" (Hebrew: בורר) in the Talmudic sense usually refers exclusively to the separation of debris from grain—i.e. to any separation of intermixed materials which renders edible that which was inedible. • Filtering undrinkable water to make it drinkable falls under this category
Mishna Continued • But.. Peeling fruits: Peeling fruits is permissible with the understanding that the fruit will be eaten right away. • Or…Sorting silverware is permitted when the sorter intends to eat the Shabbat meal immediately. Alternatively, if the sorter intends to set up the meal for a later point, it is prohibited • Or…one can make a salad because the form of the vegetables doesn't change, only the size. However one cannot COOK the vegetables to soften them for eating. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
One More Mishna Slide • Using a stapler on Shabbat falls under the prohibition of sewing, as it is a method of permanently joining two objects together • While extinguishing a fire is forbidden even when great property damage will result, in the event of any life-threatening fire one is required to extinguish the flames
Challenge • Jesus challenges them on their overall view of the Sabbath. • Their view was that the Sabbath was holy and man had to conform to it, and you honored God, by keeping the Sabbath. • Jesus had a far different view. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Matthew’s Account • 1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath." 3He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
Continued • 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
Jesus’ Reply • 4 arguments against the "yoke" of the Pharisees • First, Jesus refers to an event described in the life of David • Read 1 Samuel 21:1-6 • David and his soldiers entered the Holy Place in the Tabernacle and ate the Bread of the Presence • Jesus’ point in mentioning this is not entirely clear
Reply continued • I Samuel passage does not place this event on the Sabbath • Some argue that the point is that David violated the Law and no one objected because of his greatness. • But Jesus, as one "greater than David," was now present and thus he possessed the authority to violate the Sabbath also.
2nd Argument of Jesus • 5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here • Priests killing the sacrificial animals and cleaning up the mess from the sacrifice. (Work) • Temple sacrifices justified Sabbath breaking
Greater than.. 3rd Argument • That greater thing than the temple is presumably the ministry of Jesus • If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. (Hosea 6:6) • It is a call to right priorities in spiritual matters. • Thus meeting the hunger of his disciples would justify violation of the Sabbath law.
Priorities/4th Argument • For Jesus, It appears Sabbath laws must yield to the higher claims of human needs • Can anyone apply this to our lives as Christians today? • 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. • The question is Jesus’ right to give a new interpretation of the Sabbath law • Jesus does not deny the Sabbath commandment
Mark’s Account • Jesus claims the right to interpret it in such a way that the Pharisees’ interpretation is canceled. Thus Jesus’ "yoke" is easier than that of the Pharisees • 27 Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. • Can you see the burden that was lifted when Jesus said that?
Abundant Life He was also showing them that His Spirituality did not put men in bondage to a religious system, but freed them • Jesus has come to bring life and that more abundantly. • His people would be marked by Joy and Life and Love. • Is that what you represent to those around you? • Do they see life and love and joy in you? • Or do they see obligation and legalism and religiosity www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
2nd Sabbath controversy www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Next Week • Ask Bob Questions? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info