Passage: Matthew 12:1-14
Points
1. Jesus and his disciples were ridiculed by the Pharisees because they picked grain and ate it on the Sabbath.
2. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath and he desires “mercy, not sacrifice…”
3. It is always lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
Personalize
It is easy for us to be more concerned with the letter of the law rather than the purpose of the law. The Sabbath was created for humanity. It was the day and time we would stop from our labor in order to find rest and to refocus our attention on God our creator and sustainer. The Pharisees were more concerned with the “letter of the law” rather than the purpose of the law. No matter what the circumstance, you must not lift a finger to do anything, even to help another individual. Jesus rejected this notion.
One of the key phrases I pick up from this passage is the Lord “desires mercy, not sacrifice”. “Man made religion” calls for a sacrifice but often is limited in its mercy. For example, it instructs its followers to offer the proper incense in a exact way and limits a person’s personal faith expression. When our concern for our neighbors and the plot of those suffering is lessened by our religious practice and sacrifice, we are not living a life of mercy and compassion. It is more important to stop and help someone with a flat tire on the way to church than making sure we are on time to church. When we see someone else in need we must be willing to show mercy and move to action, whether it is on Monday or Sunday. We are never limited by our faith when it comes to showing mercy and compassion to others.
Prayer
Lord may our mercy not be limited by our faith practices. When someone is brought before us on any given day, may we respond with mercy and compassion. Lord give us the desire to serve others and not be limited by the boundaries or time restraints we find in our religious practices. May we love as You love and express mercy as You have expressed to us.
