Who Was Really Dishonoring the Sabbath?

Nazarene Nap!

Scripture:

Luke 6:6   On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. ⁷ The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. ⁸ Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” He got up and stood there. ⁹ Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” ¹⁰ After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. ¹¹ But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Observation:

Luke continues speaking about the Sabbath. The Pharisees were already upset about the disciples eating on the Sabbath day and were just waiting for another opportunity to catch him in some kind of act for which they could condemn him. 

We are challenged to look behind the scenes at what is happening. The Pharisee’s belief system was so rigid that it prevented them from being compassionate. Because he healed a man, Jesus was considered sinful. Interestingly, the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of dishonoring the Sabbath, while they themselves conspired on the Sabbath to get rid of him! 

Strauss says: “The Greek reads literally, ‘they were filled with madness [or, mindless fury, anoia].’ The impression is that these Jewish leaders are at their wits’ end and do not know what to do. The reference to destroying a life in 6:9 takes on heavy irony here, as the Pharisees break the Sabbath by plotting against Jesus’ life. The real Sabbath violation is not Jesus’ healing, but the uncaring and hypocritical attitude of the Pharisees” ( ZIBBCNT)

Application:

Heart change is supposed to result in an attitude adjustment. Jesus’ presence was a new Spirit moving in and among the people. What had become, in so many ways, a dead religion, was to experience a new breath of life through Jesus. The Pharisees simply could not think in this way, but wanted to remain in the security of their legalism. Neale tells us, “The path of holiness as exemplified in Jesus’ life was (and is) full of both danger and promise. The same is true when the modern church chooses an ethic of inclusion and compassion for those in its society. The path is a danger to outmoded identities based on exclusion as a way of operation. But it is full of the adventure of grace in action” (NBBC). 

We are invited into a partnership of grace with our Lord and that sometimes moves us into messy spaces. While we would love to have all the answers presented in a pretty fashion and tied up with a bow, it simply will not happen. That’s not the way the Spirit moves. Instead, we are invited into a life of compassion with Christ, one that honors the Sabbath on principle, not on rule. 

The Pharisees were the ones who dishonored the Sabbath on principle. Sometimes, by following the letter of the law, we actually move against the Spirit. The life of holiness is one in which we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit who guides and directs us in all we do. 

Prayer:

Lord, even when it’s messy, I want to move with you and your compassion.  Amen.