Law Breaker?

Matthew 12:1-4 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 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.”

DOES Jesus disobey the 4th Commandment: Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” And when the disciples picked the grain to eat, did he permit them to disobey the 8th commandment: Exodus 20:15 “You shall not steal.”

Bible commentator Spiros Zohiartes explains Matthew 12:1-4 in this way: “The fourth commandment set apart the Sabbath. But as noted in Matthew 11, Christ promised inner rest, in the new covenant, not structural rest. The Sabbath rest of the age to come is rest and peace of soul in the midst of hard labors for the Kingdom of God.

“And the Pharisees criticism of the disciples picking grain was not because the disciples were stealing. God’s laws gave permission for hungry persons to eat grain or corn in a field if they did not harvest it in quantity (Deuteronomy 23:25). Instead, the Pharisees charged the disciples for working on the Sabbath.

“In response, Jesus reminded the Pharisees that David and his men once ate showbread (bread offered to God) in the tabernacle that was forbidden to all but priests (1 Sam 21:1-6). David's circumstance was also an example of human need taking priority over ceremonial restriction. Acts of mercy are not the ordinary work forbidden on the Sabbath.”

Some Christians and churches debate, “Do we do works of service on the Sabbath?” From Jesus’ teachings and God’s laws we can answer, “Yes, we can.”

Resting from our daily labors is both beneficial and commanded by God. To show mercy is also God’s command. There is no day God has forbidden mercy. Jesus did not set aside God's law; He revealed its true purpose. God's commands are intended to promote worship, mercy, and human flourishing rather than burdensome legalism. Jesus tells us more in the next lesson.

Jesus Teaches: God’s Law leads to rest, mercy and life.