The Lord of the Sabbath: Mercy Over
Man-Made Tradition
Introduction
Jesus is our sinless High Priest, tempted in all points yet without
sin (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22). In Matthew 12:1–8, His holiness
confronts Pharisaic accusation and exposes the danger of elevating
tradition over God’s Word.
Christ’s
Sinlessness and the Pharisaic Charge
Scripture affirms without qualification that Jesus never sinned
(Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22). Therefore, He never condoned sin,
because approving sin is sin. With that foundation, Matthew 12 opens
as the Pharisees accuse Jesus’ hungry disciples of unlawfully
plucking grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–2). The charge hinges on
human tradition, not divine law. God’s law made specific provision
for the poor and the hungry: landowners were to leave gleanings, and
travelers could pluck heads of grain with the hand (Leviticus 23:22;
Deuteronomy 23:25). The law forbade harvesting with a sickle, not
picking by hand. The disciples obeyed the Scripture; the Pharisees
defended their additions.
Jesus’
Threefold Scriptural Answer
Jesus answers from all three sections of the Hebrew
Scriptures—Writings, Law, and Prophets—showing that Scripture
rightly applied exposes hypocrisy and protects mercy.
1) From the
Writings: David and the Showbread
Jesus asks, “Have you not read…?” and cites David eating the
consecrated bread reserved for priests (1 Samuel 21:1–6; Matthew
12:3–4). David acted contrary to the law; yet the Pharisees excused
him because they revered him. They condemned the guiltless while
excusing the guilty. Jesus unveils the inconsistency: their judgment
was partial and driven by preference, not principle.
2) From the
Law: Priests Working on the Sabbath
Jesus reminds them that the priests “profane” the Sabbath—i.e., they
work—by offering sacrifices, yet are blameless because God commanded
it (Numbers 28:9–10; Matthew 12:5). Obedience to God’s command is
never a violation of God’s rest. The Pharisees’ standard would
implicate the very priests of the temple; Scripture clears them.
3) From the
Prophets: God Desires Mercy, Not Sacrifice
Quoting Hosea 6:6, Jesus teaches that offerings without a merciful
heart are empty (Matthew 12:7). God requires inward devotion—mercy,
justice, faithfulness—alongside outward obedience (cf. Matthew
23:23–28). The disciples are “guiltless” because their act accords
with God’s merciful law. The Pharisees’ rigid tradition obscured the
heart of God.
The Lord of
the Sabbath
Jesus concludes: “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”
(Matthew 12:8). Mark records the companion truth: “The Sabbath was
made for man” (Mark 2:27). God gave Sabbath for man’s good. Human
additions had turned a gift into a burden. As Lord, Jesus interprets
and fulfills the law perfectly; He neither breaks it nor bends it.
He restores God’s intent—rest, mercy, and worship.
The Danger
of Adding to God’s Word
The Pharisees took what God allowed and by tradition forbade it.
God’s Word is settled in heaven; no circumstance grants authority to
change it (Psalm 119:89). Compassion is not compromise; mercy is not
lawlessness. Mercy is obedience to God’s heart expressed in God’s
law.
Whole-Person Religion
God wants the whole person: heart, mind, will, motives, and actions
(Romans 12:1–2). Outward piety without inward transformation is a
whitewashed tomb (Matthew 23:27–28). True discipleship embraces
repentance that yields new priorities, daily cross-bearing, and
obedient faith (Luke 9:23; Acts 26:20).
The Lord of
the Sabbath: Mercy Over Man-Made Tradition Sermon Outline:
-
Introduction: Jesus is sinless
High Priest; scene set (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; Matthew
12:1–8).
-
Charge
Against the Disciples (Matthew
12:1–2)
-
Hunger,
hand-plucked grain; Scripture permits gleaning (Leviticus
23:22; Deuteronomy 23:25).
-
Pharisaic tradition reclassifies plucking/rubbing as
harvesting.
-
Jesus’
Threefold Answer from Scripture
-
Writings—David and the Showbread
(1 Samuel 21:1–6; Matthew 12:3–4)
-
Law—Priests on the Sabbath
(Numbers 28:9–10; Matthew 12:5)
-
Prophets—Mercy Over Sacrifice
(Hosea 6:6; Matthew 12:7)
-
The
Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew
12:8; Mark 2:27)
-
Applications
-
Guard the Word: Do not add
traditions that bind where God has not bound (Psalm 119:89).
-
Seek Mercy: Let compassion
govern our use of Scripture (Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:8).
-
Pursue Integrity: Align heart
and habit; avoid whitewashed religion (Matthew 23:25–28).
-
Practice Repentance: Daily
cross-bearing and whole-person obedience (Luke 9:23).
-
Conclusion: Jesus, the sinless
Lord of the Sabbath, calls us to Scripture-shaped mercy and
whole-hearted obedience.
Call to
Action
Come to the Lord of the Sabbath with a whole heart. Lay down
man-made rules and receive His yoke, which is good. Repent, believe
the gospel, and obey Christ in baptism for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38). If your religion has become outward only, return to
mercy, justice, and faithful obedience.
Key
Takeaways
-
Jesus is
sinless and never condoned sin (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22).
-
The
disciples’ gleaning aligned with God’s merciful provision
(Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy 23:25; Matthew 12:1–2).
-
Scripture,
rightly applied, exposes hypocrisy (1 Samuel 21:1–6; Numbers
28:9–10; Hosea 6:6; Matthew 12:3–7).
-
Jesus is
Lord of the Sabbath; Sabbath serves man’s good (Matthew 12:8;
Mark 2:27).
-
God requires
mercy with obedience and the transformation of the inner person
(Matthew 23:23–28; Romans 12:1–2).
Scripture
Reference List
-
Hebrews
4:15; 1 Peter 2:22 — Christ’s sinlessness.
-
Matthew
12:1–8 — Accusation and Christ’s answer.
-
Leviticus
23:22; Deuteronomy 23:25 — Gleaning provisions.
-
1 Samuel
21:1–6 — David and the consecrated bread.
-
Numbers
28:9–10 — Priestly offerings on the Sabbath.
-
Hosea 6:6 —
Mercy over sacrifice.
-
Matthew
23:23–28 — Woe to whitewashed religion.
-
Mark 2:27 —
Sabbath made for man.
-
Psalm 119:89
— God’s Word settled in heaven.
-
Luke 9:23 —
Daily cross-bearing.
-
Acts 2:38 —
Call to repentance and baptism.
Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at
Granby, MO
|
The
church of Christ
