Sabbath Keeping Jesus’ Way

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath:  to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”  Luke 6:9

Verses 7 & 8 provide the context for Jesus’ question.

“The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.  But Jesus knew what they were thinking…” 

Jesus turns the tables to ask this question of those who thought they knew more than Jesus about Sabbath keeping.  They were guilty of making up rules and regulations and expanding the existing rules with details that were all but impossible to keep.  On this day they were on the hunt to find Jesus “breaking” any of the rules regarding Sabbath keeping.

Much of this conversation centers around what is work and what is not.  If you continue the reading you will find in verse 10 that Jesus healed the man without touching him at all.  He just spoke to him.  Very clever indeed and it made the Pharisees furious!  He effectively disarmed them with His words.  Now they had to regroup and figure out how to trap him some other way.  Oh! the futility of trying to “outwit” God!  How frustrating for them.  Make no mistake, I’m not giving them any sympathy, I’m just admiring God’s work.  Would it not be much easier to listen, learn, and grow in faith as they hear the truth of His words?  Yes, it would.

Wouldn’t that be good for you and me too?

Listening and learning requires sacrifice.  The Pharisees would have to give up money, power and influence.  That was too much for them, they had to stop this Jesus who with His words alone could release man from the deformities affecting his ability to make a living and his acceptance in the community.

What do you and I need to be released from?  How can we spend more time listening to God and less time judging others?

Loving Lord,

Help us to stop trying to over-think your love and learn to hear your voice in our lives instead. Heal us from anything that stands in the way of obedience to You.  Amen.