Today’s passage: Luke 6:1-11
Helpful thoughts:
- Jesus and the disciples were not breaking the Sabbath. They were violating the man made explanation of the Sabbath. (In short, the Jews had written a manual on how to keep the Sabbath which added new and greater restrictions.)
- Matthew 11:28-30
- This wonderful promise from Jesus makes a lot of sense when compared to the heavy burdens the religious leaders had placed on the people.
- Matthew 11:28-30
- Ahimelech the priest sacrificed what was rightfully his in order to bless others (Matthew 12:7).
- In declaring Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus was showing these Pharisees how upside down their thinking was:
- God gave the Sabbath to bless man.
- Man used their extra Sabbath rules to condemn God.
- In declaring Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus was showing these Pharisees how upside down their thinking was:
- In the presence of truth, hearts are revealed.
Questions to consider:
- Why didn’t the Pharisees answer Jesus’ question in verse 9? What was their dilemma?
- What had all of the legalism kept the Jewish people from being able to do? Are there any rules/laws that we have written that keep us from knowing and loving people who need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are there any ways we have made it “unlawful” to do good?
- What made it so hard for these Pharisees and religious leaders to repent and follow Christ? What was at stake for them and their history/heritage? Why is it just as much of a miracle when “religious” people are saved?