JESUS' TEACHINGS CONCERNING THE SABBATH AND OTHER QUESTIONS
[Matthew:12:1-50 [1] At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. [2] But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. [3] But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; [4] How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? [5] Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? [6] But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. [7] But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. [8] For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. [9] And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: [10] And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. [11] And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? [12] How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. [13] Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. [14] Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. [15] But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; [16] And charged them that they should not make him known: [17] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, [18] Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. [19] He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. [20] A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. [21] And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. [22] Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. [23] And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? [24] But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. [25] And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: [26] And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [27] And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. [28] But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. [29] Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. [30] He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. [31] Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. [32] And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. [33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. [34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. [36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. [38] Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. [39] But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: [40] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. [42] The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. [43] When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. [44] Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. [45] Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. [46] While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. [47] Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. [48] But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? [49] And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! [50] For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. ].
"The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath" (Mark 2:27).
I The Pharisees' Dispute with Jesus Concerning the Sabbath
1. Immediate accusation is made, [Matthew:12:1-2 [1] At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.
[2] But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
]; [Mark:7:6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
]; [Luke:6:7And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
]; [John:9:16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
].
2. The disciples desire to satisfy their hunger, as did David, [Matthew:12:3-5 [3] But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
[4] How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
[5] Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
]; [1 Samuel:21:6So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
]; [Deuteronomy:23:24-25 [24] When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.
[25] When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.
].
Christ gives a clear statement of His pre-eminence, [Matthew:12:6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
]; [John:3:31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
]; [Hebrews:3:3For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
]; [Colossians:1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
]; [Luke:11:31The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
]
4. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, [Matthew:12:7-8 [7] But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
[8] For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
]; [Mark:2:27-28 [27] And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
[28] Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
]; [LUK:6.5]; [Colossians:2:16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
].
5. The Pharisees seek accusation against Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, [Matthew:12:9-10 [9] And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
[10] And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
]; [Luke:6:6And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
].
6. Jesus reveals the inconsistency of his questioners, [Matthew:12:11And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
]; [Luke:6:9Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
]; [John:7:23If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
].
7. The man is healed on the Sabbath, [Matthew:12:12-13 [12] How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
[13] Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
]; [Hosea:6:6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
]; [Micah:6:8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
]; [John:5:9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
].
II The Pharisees' Plot to Destroy Jesus
1. They form a conspiracy against the Son of God, [Matthew:12:14Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
]; [Acts:23:12And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
]; [Genesis:37:18And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
]; [Daniel:6:4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
].
2. Jesus was praised by the Prophet Isaiah, [Matthew:12:15-21 [15] But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
[16] And charged them that they should not make him known:
[17] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
[18] Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
[19] He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
[20] A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
[21] And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
]; [Philippians:2:5-11 [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
[6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
[7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
[8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
[9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
[10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
[11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
].
3. Christ continues to heal those who come to him, [Matthew:12:22Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
]; [Matthew:15:30And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
]; [Matthew:17:18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
]; [Mark:1:31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
]; [Mark:10:52And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
]; [Luke:7:21And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
]; [John:4:50-53 [50] Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
[51] And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
[52] Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
[53] So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
], [Isaiah:53:4-5 [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
]; [James:5:14-16 [14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
[16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
].
III The Charge that Jesus Cast Out Devils by Beelzebub
1. The people were amazed at the miraculous healing, [Matthew:12:23And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
]; [Matthew:13:54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
]; [Matthew:22:41-46 [41] While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
[42] Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.
[43] He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
[44] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
[45] If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
[46] And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
].
2. The Pharisees accuse Christ of obtaining His power from the devil, [Matthew:12:24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
]; [Luke:6:10-11 [10] And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
[11] And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
]; [John:10:20And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
].
3. The accusers are confounded, [Matthew:12:25-29 [25] And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
[26] And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
[27] And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
[28] But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
[29] Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
]; [Isaiah:11:2And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
]; [Colossians:2:3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
]; [Luke:11:19-22 [19] And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
[20] But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
[21] When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
[22] But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
].
4. Our Lord marks a definite point of division, [Matthew:12:30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
]; [Luke:11:23He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
]; [John:10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
]; [Ezekiel:18:4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
]; [1 John:3:7-8 [7] Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
[8] He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
]; [1 John:5:18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
].
5. Jesus warns the Pharisees of the dangerous ground they are on, [Matthew:12:31-37 [31] Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
[32] And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
[33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
[34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
[35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
[36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
[37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
]; [Mark:3:29But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
]; [Acts:7:51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
].
IV Jesus' Denunciation of Sign-Seekers
1. The Pharisees seek an exhibition but not divine leading, [Matthew:12:38-39 [38] Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
[39] But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
]; [Luke:11:16And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
]; [John:4:48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
]; [1 Corinthians:1:22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
].
2. The Jews shall be condemned by the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba, [Matthew:12:40-42 [40] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
[41] The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
[42] The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
]; [2 Thessalonians:2:11-12 [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
[12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
].
3. The final state of the backslidden Jews is revealed, [Matthew:12:43-45 [43] When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
[44] Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
[45] Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
]; [Luke:11:24-26 [24] When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
[25] And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
[26] Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
]; [2 Peter:2:20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
].
4. Jesus declares who are his true brethren, [Matthew:12:46-50 [46] While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
[47] Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
[48] But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
[49] And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
[50] For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
]; [Hebrews:2:11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
].
The question of Sabbath observance is the first point taken up in our lesson; and as it is vital that we be well grounded in all points concerning our Christian pilgrimage upon earth, so it is important that we know our ground concerning the Sabbath. This generation is much given to desecration of the day set apart by our Lord as a day of special honour and reverence to God, but as we study the Scriptures and open our hearts to the teachings of Jesus we shall find that observance of the Sabbath is not to be taken lightly.
Sunday, the Christian Sabbath, is a holy day and as such it should be reverenced. One who honours God and His Word can not find it in his heart to bring reproach on the Gospel, and dishonour by pleasure trips, picnics, or other such frivolities of the world the day God has set aside, let alone buying, selling, or engaging in other business transactions.
No Christian is ever found in the places of sin on Sunday or any other day, but a special reverence and regard should be placed upon the Lord's Day. As the Lord's Day, it should be spent in worshiping and honouring God, our Creator, and Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath and the One Whose resurrection from the dead has made possible the new creation. God will richly reward with joy, peace, and happiness the soul who thus honours Him and His Day.
In the Ten Commandments we are told to "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." Many people are seeking to accuse us regarding our observance of the Christian Sabbath, the first day of the week; but the fact that Jesus has honoured and blessed that day by His resurrection and His post-resurrection appearances to the assembled disciples, along with the fact that His Holy Spirit has been pleased to put His seal upon it as the day of worship during the 1900 years since that time, is enough to convince every honest inquirer after truth that Sunday is the day that God has chosen. The Jewish Sabbath has nothing to do with the Christian church, nor has the Christian church anything to do with the Jewish Sabbath. The Jewish Sabbath is an institution of the Law in connection with Israel. The great documents addressed to the Christian church, the Epistles, never mention the Jewish Sabbath once, nor is there anywhere in the Epistles an exhortation to keep the Jewish Sabbath
God's Word declares a few things that are well for us to remember when it comes to Sabbath observance. Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it. When David and his companions were fleeing from Saul they had been without food for some time and were hungry. They came to the priest who had no food to give them except the shewbread, which was set before the Lord. It was holy bread and was lawful only for the priests to take for their use when new bread was placed upon the table. On this occasion the priest gave the bread to David and his men, and they ate it. This action might be termed a violation of the Law, but the need of these men was so great it took precedence over the Law. Jesus tells us that the Sabbath was given for the good of man, and not man for the Sabbath. There is one thing, which Jesus displayed which took precedence over the Law -- and that is mercy. If it were not for the mercy of God we should all be doomed to destruction, but through mercy we are heirs of the promise ([James:2:5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? ]).
The Pharisees should have seen that the disciples were in need of food, and have satisfied their demand; but like self-righteous people of all ages, they sought to magnify their own position and point out the error of the other ([Matthew:7:5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. ]). Their attitude was not one of mercy but of judgment ([Matthew:7:12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. ]). As the Sabbath was made for the benefit of man, and Jesus Himself was Lord of the Sabbath, it was altogether fitting and proper that mercy should be especially manifest on that day. Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath, and again displayed mercy. True, the false accusers in the person of the Pharisees were there to hinder, if possible. They desired an exhibition -- but that is never the motive of the works of God. Love, compassion, and mercy are always behind His every word, thought, and deed. Many people today are seeking to follow a sign; but if, instead, they will follow the Word -- preach the Word -- signs will follow them.
As Christ is our example, this makes very plain the exact manner in which we should conduct ourselves. The Pharisees were definitely in error in seeking to condemn an act of mercy on any day, and especially on the Sabbath. Jesus reminded His accusers that if one of them owned a sheep -- a mere animal -- which fell into a pit on the Sabbath that they would not hesitate to save it. But, in their estimation, a man -- a living soul -- was not of sufficient value that effort should be made on the Sabbath day to grant him mercy.
That attitude is only formality. The continual observance of forms and ceremonies is not the sum and substance of the Gospel story. Salvation from sin through the mercy of God, purchased by Jesus' Blood shed on the Cross of Calvary, is the all-important requisite. Ceremonies, beautiful though they may be, without salvation -- the mercy of God -- are but sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. It takes more than worldly appearances to secure the approval of the Lord, for God looketh upon the heart ([1 Samuel:16:7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. ]). Worldly adoration or importance will be of no value before the Judgment Bar of God.
There is yet another topic in our lesson, which is of great value, and that is Divine Healing. In the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, we find a promise not only of a Messiah, a Saviour, but also of a Healer Divine ([Isaiah:53:1-5 [1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? [2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. [3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ]; [Matthew:8:16-17 [16] When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: [17] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. ]). In the Epistle of James we are told in time of sickness to pray first, and then call for the elders, if necessary; and God will certainly honour us for following His Word. We can trust the Lord for our healing and He will never fail. Remember that in the beginning God made man ([Genesis:2:7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. ]); and God has a perfect knowledge of our physical and mental make-up. It is only wisdom, then, to go for healing to the Great Physician rather than to someone whose experience has extended over but a very few years at the most.
Jesus revealed to the Jewish nation the results of continuing in the sinful way they were going. They had opportunity, and had the light; but the Spirit of God had departed. Every backslider can look for a time when the evil spirit will return in a multiplied number. This happened to Israel; and, as a result, terrible things have come upon that nation in these last days.
1. Of what did the Pharisees accuse the disciples?
2. According to the Old Testament, did their accusation have foundation?
3. What is the position of Christ concerning the Sabbath?
4. Explain why it was lawful for Jesus to heal on the Sabbath.
5. Upon what foundation did the Pharisees place their belief that it was sin to heal on the Sabbath?
6. From what source would the accusers have us believe that Christ received power to cast out devils?
7. Does Jesus continue to heal those who look to Him?
8. Do Christians seek for signs?
9. What is the final condition of one who has once known the Lord but has fallen back into sin?
- Login to post comments
