When Legalism becomes an obstacle to Ministry

Some of my family in a field of sunflowers. 

Scripture:

Luke 6:1   One sabbath while Jesus was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. ² But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” ³ Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ⁴ He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?” ⁵ Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

Observation:

Luke brings us into two stories about Jesus on the Sabbath. The first involves his disciples and, of course, interaction with the Pharisees. Whether the Pharisees were present looking over the shoulders of the disciples, or simply heard this story later, we do not know, however, they seemed to have known that the disciples were hungry, and while walking through a field, grabbed some grain and ate it. This may seem rather innocuous to us, but the Pharisees had meticulous rules about what you could do on the Sabbath. 

Before we begin to judge the Pharisees too harshly, they thought they were doing good things. They were trying to call the people of God back to holy living, and this included honoring the Sabbath. The fact that the Jews rested on the Sabbath set them apart from the rest of Roman society. This actually helped them define who they were as a people. The problem was that they were far too intent on practicing the letter of the law (which had meticulous rules and regulations that they had established in addition to the law of God), rather than living a life that was oriented toward God. 

Interestingly, Jesus doesn’t say that his disciples haven’t violated the law of God. However, he’s trying to open their eyes to a bigger picture. By bringing up the story of David, he is placing himself in the Davidic line. Jesus and his disciples were simply doing what David and his followers had to do, by recognizing that human need overrides ceremonial requirements. 

The final statement is filled with power, where first he identifies himself as “The Son of Man.” Therefore, not only has he said that he is from the line of David, but he is now identifying himself with God. If this is Jesus’ true identity, then he is the lord of the Sabbath, or he has the power to say what is done on the Sabbath and what is not. 

Application:

Often, when our spiritual life is not fresh and vibrant, we find comfort in conforming to a list of behaviors. Lest we judge the Pharisees too harshly, I think that they really believed that they were doing the right thing — that they were trying to protect the faith and bring the people back to God. What they failed to realize was that the answer to their prayers was standing right in front on them, but he didn’t meet their expectations of the Messiah. Their legalism had become so rigid that there was no space for the Lord of the Sabbath to help guide them into the greater truth, which was to minister to human need. 

We live in a sea of human need, and God’s people are to be an oasis where people can be directed toward the One who can meet those needs. As God’s people, we are to be participants in supplying those needs and channels of grace. Legalism has a way of keeping us from getting to those who need Jesus the most. 

Jesus’ response reveals grace. We are able to walk in this grace when we spend time with the Lord. Our spiritual life becomes guided, not by a set of rules, but by the One who knows all the principles behind the rules. We are able to walk in and become instruments of Jesus’ grace because we are filled with his love and compassion. 

Prayer:

Lord, please help me to follow your leading today and every day. May my life be a channel of your great grace.  Amen.