Picky, Picky Series

Introduction

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1 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And 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 were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. (Luke 6:1–11 ESV)

To this point in Luke, we’ve examined the authority of Jesus. This motif will continue throughout the entire gospel of Luke. Jesus’ authority to do what he says and how that is demonstrated. Very important we understand this continual theme over and over again. So far we’ve observed Jesus’ divine authority, his authority over sin and temptation, he authority to proclaim the good news, his authority to heal and deliver, forgive sins, and call people to himself. Only God can make these claims and therefore, only God can claim authority over his creative order, including the Sabbath.

Another theme that emerges in Luke is the Mercy motif. This is a merciful work of Jesus to heal, deliver, forgive sins, and receive people to himself. We see this in the demonic, calling Peter and Levi, the Leper, or the paralytic. What is important to understand is that mercy has little value without the accompanying authority.

If Rob steals Jason’s car, and I come along and say, “Don’t worry Rob, all is forgiven.” My act of mercy bears little weight. I don’t have the authority to forgive the debt. But If Rob steals my car and the police bring him to me, and I say, “I will have mercy on Rob,” all of a sudden my mercy is powerful because I have the authority in my hands to prosecute or forgive.

Mercy is the act of not administering justice when justice is punitive. Because of our sinfulness, we deserve death and eternal separation from God (Rom. 6:23, Isaiah 59:2), but God provided an atonement for sin and through it shows us mercy. That is, He does not deliver to the Christian the natural consequence of his sin which is damnation. That is why Jesus became sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21) and bore the punishment due to us (Isaiah 53:4-5). It was to deliver us from damnation. (Compare with justice and grace). So grace is the act of giving something we don’t deserve, while mercy is the act of withholding something we do deserve.

The Pharisees shared little of either. They were religious but cared little for the needy or the needs of others. Religious service that doesn’t look after the plight of others is unacceptable. God abhors religion without mercy:

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He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV)

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For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6 ESV)

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But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? (1 John 3:17 ESV)

1. The Issue of the Sabbath

We have to understand this to understand the heart of Jesus’ teaching of the Sabbath. The issue of the Sabbath will be a repeated issue between Jesus and the Pharisees because of this authority. Ownership of the Sabbath is not given to man, it is in God’s authority, given to man by God, and like everything of God that man takes over is perverted. This was the case with the Pharisees.