The Gospel and the Kingdom - Matthew - Jesus' Conflicts - Part 1

 

TEXT: Matthew 12:1-14  – “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. ² And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” ³ But He said to 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 ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? ⁵ Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? ⁶ Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. ⁷ But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” ⁹ Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. ¹⁰ And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. ¹¹ Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? ¹² Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” ¹³ Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. ¹⁴ Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

We are going to study in Chapter 12.  You notice that there is a section – verses 15-21 that I skip over in this topic. No, I am not leaving them out, we will at them in a couple of days. They deal with Jesus fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah where He predicted the earthly ministry of the Messiah.

One thing was true of Jesus’ ministry – it was not without conflict. He was constantly being challenged by the religious leaders of His day. He elevated the Word of God over the traditions of men. We will see three separate occasions where Jesus is confronted by these Pharisees.

Definition of conflict –

• Opposing action of incompatibles : 
• Antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, principles, interests, or persons).
• Mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands.
• As a verb – to be different, opposed, or contradictory: to fail to be in agreement or accord

All of these seem to fit well what we will see in this study today. We will look today at the Sabbath Conflict.

The Pharisees take issue with Jesus when He performs His miracles. The miracles make it difficult for them to condemn and deny Jesus. Here we see them producing a conflict in verses 1-8 in Regard to Eating on the Sabbath. 

Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees for allowing His disciples to pluck some heads of grain from a field on the Sabbath. Jesus responds by pointing out two facts:

First, the purpose of the Sabbath (verses 1-7) – the Sabbath was made for man and not the reverse!

• Seen in the life of David (verse 3-4). David and his men ate bread reserved for the priests (1 Samuel 21:6)
• As seen in the law of Moses (verses 5-6). The priests were allowed to serve in the Temple on the Sabbath Day.
• As seen in the book of Hosea (12:7). God wants them to be merciful; He doesn’t care that much about their sacrifices.

Then, the person of the Sabbath (verse 8). The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

We finish today with the Pharisees creating conflict in Regard to Healing on the Sabbath (verses 9-14).

Jesus notices a man with a deformed hand. Notice the accusation (verses 9-10) that they bring. The Pharisees ask Jesus whether it is legal to work by healing on the Sabbath?

We see Jesus’ Answer in verses 11-12. Jesus answers them by asking them a rhetorical question –  would they rescue a sheep on the Sabbath? He then says, “Of course you would!” How much more valuable is a person than a sheep. 

In response, we see the Action by the Savior (verses 13-14). He heals the man’s hand.

There are many today who are quick to criticize and reject Jesus – even those who are very religious. Many because the way of Jesus does not fit into their traditions or ways.

Jesus is above the many rituals and traditions we have added to the church.