Matthew 12:1-7  It is at this point in time that Jesus teaches about the Sabbath. His disciples ate some grain as they walked through the field.. and the Pharisees accused them of violating the sabbath.  As non-Jewish believers we don't talk much about the Sabbath.  We know that it is the seventh day and that it is supposed to be a day of rest. We know that God Himself rested on the seventh day after His creation work. But, there are more things that we can learn about it through the teaching of Jesus. 

First of all, we see that Jesus did not condemn the disciples for eating the grain. They were hungry and they ate what was available. Were they really breaking the Law? We need to look back to what the Law actually says.. 

Deuteronomy 5:14 says, "but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you."

Exodus 20:8-11 says "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.... for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea... therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy."  And Exodus 31:13- 18 gives further teaching.. "You shall observe My sabbaths for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you...  So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever..."

So, from the Law we see that the sabbath was to be observed.. remembered.. and celebrated. It was to be observed for the sake of every person.. slave as well as master.. and every animal as well.  It was to be remembered in the context of God's creation.  It emphasizes the sovereignty and sanctity of the Lord who made a covenant with His chosen people.  According to Mark 2:27 Jesus added these words.. "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." 

But, according to the CJB Study Bible, the Jews had added "thirty-nine works" that were prohibited on the sabbath.  They defined the disciples acts of taking the grain off the plants as reaping and the act of rubbing the heads of the grains together as threshing.  They used their version of the law to lord it over everyone else.  Jesus called them to reconsider... to recognize the true purpose of the sabbath Law.. "But if you had known what this means, 'I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent." 

David and his companions ate from the consecrated bread.  The priests in the temple continued their daily sacrifices.. even on the sabbath. Any of the men who were condemning the disciples and Jesus.. would have rescued that "one sheep.. if it [fell] into a pit on the Sabbath."  These would not be condemned.  The religious leaders wanted to pick and choose their own interpretation of the Word.. 

Jesus said, "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."  This echoes his words from chapter 11:27 "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father.."  His authority was greater than the Law and the religious traditions..   Indeed, "something greater than the temple is here.." 

In the Kingdom of God, there is rest.  Rest for all who come to Him.. all the "weary and heavy-laden".. He had the authority, the ability, and the compassion to give true rest.. the true Sabbath is found in Him!

Father in heaven, let Your name be kept holy.  Let Your kingdom come and Your will done.  Let us find the True rest that is Your gift.. Jesus Christ  our King and Lord.  May we never forget the grace that You have shown us.. the life that You have offered.. free from "works" that cannot bring rest.. but filled with the blessings of rest..  peace and joy and love that has no end.  We turn away from the traditions of men and look to the One who has fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets.. the One greater than any other.  Fill us with love and compassion and the holiness of Christ our Lord we pray.  We give You all praise and thanksgiving in His wonderful Name. Amen.