Lesson: Luke 6:1-11
Golden Text: “Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?” (Luke 6:9).
INTRODUCTION.
Jesus used the Sabbath as an occasion for teaching not only
with His words, but also with His actions. Those who came to
observe and criticize Him found that they were not able to defeat Him with
arguments. In our lesson this week, the themes of healing and the
Sabbath come together. There is more to the Sabbath than Jesus’
opponents understood. The Sabbath was and is a sign between Israel
and God. It stands for rest in God’s power. Only
Jesus understood what the Sabbath was all about, and He left us an enduring
lesson.
BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON.
After relating the story of
Simeon’s and Anna’s prophecies concerning the Christ Child, Luke then writes
that “the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the
grace of God was upon him” (see Luke 2:39-40). Then we are told
that when Jesus was twelve, his family came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast
of Passover. After the feast, upon returning home Mary and Joseph
thought Jesus was in the crowd, but He wasn’t. He remained in
Jerusalem. After a day’s journey they couldn’t find Him, so they
returned to Jerusalem to look for Him. After searching for 3 days
they found Jesus in the temple sitting among the teachers listening to them and
asking them questions. His parents then asked Him why He had
stayed behind causing them much anguish. Jesus replied that they
should’ve know that He had to be about His Father’s business, but they didn’t
understand what He meant (see Luke 2:41-50). Luke chapter 2 ends
with the words “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God
and man” (see Luke 2:52). In chapter 3, we are introduced to John
the Baptist and his ministry, his reproving of Herod for his affair with his
brother’s wife, and his baptizing of Jesus (see Luke 3:1-22). The
remaining verses of chapter 3 give the genealogy of Jesus (see Luke
3:23-38). In chapter 4, Luke details Satan’s temptation of Jesus
in the wilderness (see Luke 4:1-13). He also begins
His public ministry by visiting many of the synagogues in Galilee and
particularly Nazareth where He faced opposition, and was taken out of the city
to be thrown off a cliff, but He escaped through the crowd (see Luke 4:14-30).
In verses 31-37 Jesus casts demons out of a man while in
Capernaum. In verses 38-44, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and
others and preached in the synagogues of Galilee. In chapter 5
Jesus calls some of His disciples (see Luke 5:1-11); cleanses a leper (see Luke
5:12-15) and heals a cripple (see Luke 5:16-26). In verses 27-35
Jesus calls Matthew to be His disciple and is questioned by the scribes and
Pharisees because He ate dinner with Matthew who was a publican. or tax
collector. This is where our lesson begins.
III. LORD OF THE SABBATH (Luke 6:1-5). As mentioned in the background, as Jesus began His earthly ministry, Luke records two previous occasions that Jesus visited synagogues on two other Sabbaths. Luke 4:16 tells us that Jesus taught in the Nazareth synagogue, and Luke 4:31 tells us that He also taught and healed in a synagogue in Capernaum, both happening on Sabbath days.
A. Rubbing grain on the Sabbath (Luke 6:1). Now we are told about another visit that Jesus made to a synagogue on a Sabbath day. This verse says “And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.” The phrase “on the second sabbath after the first” refers to the regular weekly Sabbath or Saturday that fell after the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which was the 15th of Nisan (see Leviticus 23:6-8). According to the Law, the first day of this feast was a “holy convocation” in which no work could be done, thus making it a Sabbath Day. It could fall on any day of the week. This feast lasted 7 days and the last day was also a “holy convocation” when no work could be done making it a Sabbath Day as well. Since the first day of the feast was considered a Sabbath Day, the following Saturday would be the regular weekly Sabbath and therefore it was “the second sabbath after the first.” Luke says that on this Saturday Sabbath, Jesus and His disciple went “through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.” In Matthew’s account of this same story, he writes that the disciples picked the wheat because they were hungry (see Matthew 12:1). The term “corn fields” does not refer to corn as we know it, but to barley or wheat fields. The word “corn” in British English is a general word for grain. The husk around each seed of wheat or barley can be removed by rubbing it between both hands. The uncovered seeds, though uncooked are edible and nutritious.
B. Not lawful on the Sabbath (Luke 6:2). In this verse, Luke writes “And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?” Seeing Jesus’ disciples picking and eating the wheat seeds, some of the Pharisees who were there asked “Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?” In other words they wanted to know why the disciples were doing what was against the Law to do on the Sabbath days. Since the Pharisees were based in Jerusalem, in southern Israel, for them to be in Galilee seems to indicate that they were following Jesus to determine if He was a threat to them or a real teacher. The Pharisees came to Jesus and attacked Him because His men were picking grain and eating it on the Sabbath Day. They accused the disciples of doing something “unlawful” on the Sabbath. The question that arises is this: was what the disciples doing an unlawful activity? Did picking grain and eating it violate the Law? The answer is no, it didn’t violate the Law. The Law was very clear in what it prohibited on the Sabbath (see Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:3; Deuteronomy 5:12-15). The people were not allowed to “work” on the Sabbath Day. The word “work” refers to “their business.” The people of Israel were forbidden from labor that brought them a profit on that day. God was so serious about the children of Israel keeping the Sabbath that He made it clear that people who violated the Sabbath work ban were to be put to death (see Exodus 31:12-18). This is illustrated in Numbers 15:32-36. The disciples were not working; they were simply meeting a pressing need. They were hungry and they were simply doing what the Law gave them permission to do. Here’s the problem: The Pharisees were not judging these men according to the Law of Moses. They were judging them according to the teachings of the rabbis and the elders. The traditions and teaching of men had been placed on the same level with the written Word of God. The disciples had not violated God’s Law; they had violated the traditions of men and the Pharisees were upset about it. For hundreds of years, the scribes, Pharisees and others had added regulation on top of regulation that went far beyond the original teachings of Scripture. They had taken a day that was given to man as a blessing and by their foolish rules and regulations, had turned it into a burden.The lesson for us is this: we must be very careful not to allow the doctrines and traditions of men to come to have the same authority in our lives as the Word of God. The Bible is God’s final authority! It is the only standard for our faith and practice.The Pharisees viewed the disciples’ actions as a violation of the Sabbath. According to their traditions, simply plucking the heads of grain or wheat was the same thing as reaping which was work. Rubbing grain in one’s hand was the same thing as threshing which was work. Throwing away the husks of the grain was the same thing as winnowing (separating the grain from the chaff) which was work. When the disciples ate the grain, the Pharisees considered that to be preparing food which was work. All four of these actions were violations of their Sabbath traditions not the Law given by God. To interpret what the disciples were doing as work was indeed stretching what the law really considered to be work and not allowed on the Sabbath. These four acts that the Pharisees considered to be work were included in a list of thirty-nine actions that Jewish rabbis taught were forbidden on the Sabbath.
C. A Sabbath riddle (Luke 6:3-4).
1. (vs. 3). In this verse Jesus replies to the Pharisees. Luke writes “And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him.” In response to the Pharisees’ question, Jesus challenged them to remember the Scripture describing what David did when he and his men were hungry. This is a reference is to I Samuel 21:1-6. As religious leaders, this incident was something that they should have read about in the Scriptures.
2. (vs. 4). Still referring to what David did, Jesus went on to say “How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?” Each week 12 consecrated loaves of bread were placed on the table of showbread in the holies portion of the tabernacle. It was called “the shewbread” or the bread of the Presence. It was replaced every Sabbath and was to be eaten only by the priests (see Exodus 25:23-30; Leviticus 24:5-9). However, on one occasion when fleeing from King Saul, David and his men ate this bread with the consent of Ahimelech the priest (see I Samuel 22:9-10). Their need was more important than ceremonial regulations. Jesus was appealing to the same principle that human need is more important than human rules and regulations. In Mark’s account of this same story, Jesus added “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). By comparing Himself and his disciples with David and his men, Jesus was in essence saying “If you condemn me, you must also condemn David.”
D. A Sabbath principle (Luke 6:5). After reminding the Pharisees of how David ate the showbread which was unlawful for anyone to eat except the priests, Jesus “said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” The name “Son of man” is how Jesus often referred to Himself. This name is based on the great messianic passage in Daniel 7:13 (see also Matthew 16:28; 19:28; Mark 14:62). Jesus uses this term about eighty times to refer to Himself. Just as Son of David is His Jewish name, and Son of God is His divine name, so the Son of man is His name as the representative Man (see I Corinthians 15:45-47). When Jesus said that He was “Lord also of the sabbath” He meant that He not only had the authority to make rulings about what was allowed on the Sabbath, but He also had the authority to over-rule the Pharisees’ traditions and regulations, because He had created the Sabbath. The Creator is always greater than the creation.
IV. DOING GOOD ON THE SABBATH (Luke 6:6-11)
A. A time for works of mercy (Luke 6:6-7).
1. (vs. 6). The scene now moves to another Sabbath day. Luke writes “And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.” On another Sabbath Day, we are told that Jesus “entered into the synagogue and taught.” Present in the congregation was a man “whose right hand was withered.” The idea here is that this man’s hand was paralyzed and of no use to him.
2. (vs. 7). While Jesus was teaching, Luke says “And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.” In the previous verses, Jesus was confronted by just the Pharisees. At this time, along with the “Pharisees” there were “scribes” present as well. “Scribes” were members of a learned class in ancient Israel and through New Testament times, who studied the Scriptures and served as copiers, editors, and teachers. By the time of Jesus, the scribes were a new upper class among the Jewish people. At first the priests were responsible for the study and communication of the law. But eventually the scribes took over that function. How they interpreted the meaning of the Law eventually became more important than the Law itself. As interpreters of Scripture, the scribes gave rules for human conduct from their study. The scribes and Pharisees were watching Jesus to see if “he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.” Obviously they hoped Jesus would heal on the Sabbath so they could bring a charge of breaking the Sabbath against Him. The law prescribed death for anyone who worked on the Sabbath (see Exodus 31:14).
B. A Sabbath question (Luke 6:8-9).
1. (vs. 8). This verse says “But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.” Since Jesus knows the human heart, he knew exactly what these men were thinking and that they came to observe and criticize. There are many people like that in the church today. Jesus told the man with the paralyzed hand to “stand forth in the midst.” In other words stand up where everyone could see him. The man did as Jesus directed him to do.
2. (vs. 9). At this point Luke writes “Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?” The pronoun “them” refers to the scribes and Pharisees, but we can rest assured that Jesus wanted everyone to hear what He had to say. He directed a question to everyone present about what is lawful on the Sabbath Day, “to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?” In Mark’s account of this same story, we are told that everyone “held their peace” (see Mark 3:4) meaning no one dared to answer. Mark goes on to say that when no one replied Jesus became angry “being grieved for the hardness of their hearts” (see Mark 3:5).
C. Mercy triumphs (Luke 6:10). This verse says “And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.” Jesus looked around at all the people present and commanded the man to “Stretch forth thy hand.” The man with the paralyzed hand did as Jesus commanded “and his hand was restored whole as the other.” Jesus had mercy on the man and healed his hand so that it was “whole” or just as useable as his other hand. Jesus did this despite what day of the week it was. Note: God is not bound by our rules and regulations. He will confound the religious traditionalists if necessary to display His unfailing love, mercy and grace.
D. Opposition Outrage (Luke 6:11). Our final verse says “And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.” The scribes and Pharisees were untouched by the miracle, but “were filled with madness” meaning they were infuriated because Jesus had outsmarted them once again. These religious leaders were so angry that they “communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.” In other words, the scribes and Pharisees came together to discuss what their next move against Jesus would be. The hypocrisy of these religious leaders is glaring. Here they were so concerned about not breaking the Sabbath laws, but were ready to kill Jesus for showing mercy and healing on the Sabbath Day. Note: It’s interesting that in Mark’s account we are told that after this incident the Pharisees entered into an unthinkable alliance with the Herodians to plot Jesus’ destruction. The Herodians were not a religious sect but a political party that supported the dynasty of Herod and were generally opposed to the Pharisees. However, sin can bring the best of enemies together to destroy all that’s good.
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