Tension on the Sabbath: Luke 6:6-11
“6) On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7) The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. 8) But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward. 9) And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” 10) After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. 11) But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” Luke 6:6-11
We are now confronted with a second miracle done by Jesus on a Sabbath. For some reason, this infuriated the scribes and Pharisees. We now have to ask some basic questions that force us to think.
First, what was the purpose of the Sabbath? It was for rest and worship. It was a day set aside to rest fri regular labor, go to the synagogue, learn about God and worship Him.
Second, where did this miracle take place? It was in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Jesus and His disciples were indeed keeping the Sabbath. They were exactly where Jewish people were expected to be on the Sabbath.
Third, is healing a physical act of work or a spiritual act of faith? Does it fall under work or worship? Is it an act of man or a manifestation of God? These are very important questions.
Fourth, how much physical work is involved for God to heal someone? Is it like gathering wood, doing basic cattle chores, walking to the synagogue or preparing a meal? Was the man with the withered hand working to earn his healing or was it a gift of grace?
So what was the problem with the scribes and Pharisees? This brings up the final point.
Finally, it appears that healing was so every day common for Jesus they wanted Him to take a break from it on the Sabbath. They wanted Him to stop being Who He was on the Sabbath!
But wait a minute; were they still scribes and Pharisees on the Sabbath? Were the priests still priests on the Sabbath? Did the temple and sacrificial system close down on the Sabbath? Not at all! Actually, spiritual service kicked into high gear on the Sabbath!
Though not intensionally, they were on the verge of making some quantum discoveries about Jesus. Let me highlight three:
First, God is still God on the Sabbath. The Great Physician is still the Great Physician on the Sabbath.
Second, healing is not a physical work, it is a spiritual act of faith. It is a manifestation of God.
Third, healing was so common for Jesus it pointed to His true nature and identity! He could no less stop being God on the Sabbath than they could stop being scribes and Pharisees.
This story actually screams a loud warning: “Beware of your theological bias, it can leave you blind, faithless and hypocritical!”
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“6) On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7) The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. 8) But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward. 9) And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” 10) After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. 11) But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” Luke 6:6-11
We are now confronted with a second miracle done by Jesus on a Sabbath. For some reason, this infuriated the scribes and Pharisees. We now have to ask some basic questions that force us to think.
First, what was the purpose of the Sabbath? It was for rest and worship. It was a day set aside to rest fri regular labor, go to the synagogue, learn about God and worship Him.
Second, where did this miracle take place? It was in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Jesus and His disciples were indeed keeping the Sabbath. They were exactly where Jewish people were expected to be on the Sabbath.
Third, is healing a physical act of work or a spiritual act of faith? Does it fall under work or worship? Is it an act of man or a manifestation of God? These are very important questions.
Fourth, how much physical work is involved for God to heal someone? Is it like gathering wood, doing basic cattle chores, walking to the synagogue or preparing a meal? Was the man with the withered hand working to earn his healing or was it a gift of grace?
So what was the problem with the scribes and Pharisees? This brings up the final point.
Finally, it appears that healing was so every day common for Jesus they wanted Him to take a break from it on the Sabbath. They wanted Him to stop being Who He was on the Sabbath!
But wait a minute; were they still scribes and Pharisees on the Sabbath? Were the priests still priests on the Sabbath? Did the temple and sacrificial system close down on the Sabbath? Not at all! Actually, spiritual service kicked into high gear on the Sabbath!
Though not intensionally, they were on the verge of making some quantum discoveries about Jesus. Let me highlight three:
First, God is still God on the Sabbath. The Great Physician is still the Great Physician on the Sabbath.
Second, healing is not a physical work, it is a spiritual act of faith. It is a manifestation of God.
Third, healing was so common for Jesus it pointed to His true nature and identity! He could no less stop being God on the Sabbath than they could stop being scribes and Pharisees.
This story actually screams a loud warning: “Beware of your theological bias, it can leave you blind, faithless and hypocritical!”
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
