Restoration & Praise Sunday School

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Devotional Reading: Luke 13:10–17

Background Scripture: Matthew 12:1–14

(See also Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–11.)

Matthew 12:1–8

1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

3 But he said unto them, have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

6 But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.

7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of man is LORD even of the sabbath day.

Key Text

I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.—Matthew 12:6

Lesson Aims

1. Identify the source of Jesus’ statement regarding mercy and sacrifice.

2. Compare and contrast the Pharisees’ basis of concern with Jesus’ own.

3. Make a plan to follow Jesus’ example and show abundant mercy in a place or time it would not be expected.

Introduction

What Are We Talking About?

In the middle of a conversation, have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “Wait, what are we really talking about?” Imagine you’re discussing loading the dishwasher. “Everyone knows the bowls go in the top rack!” you say, but as you feel the tension grow, you realize you are arguing over something else. Whose job is it to fix this? Am I the only one who cares if the dishes come out clean? Am I seen? Many of our “disagreements” turn out to be about values, whether or not we acknowledge that reason.

Jesus knew how to take a conversation and use it to reveal a person’s heart. His discussion about Sabbath is like this. You might anticipate a legal discussion of Sabbath rules—what is or is not permitted. But Jesus turned the discussion around to reveal the motives of the Pharisees. He was more interested in talking about showing mercy. At the same time, His sweeping claims left everyone wondering, “Who is this person who calls himself Son of Man and Lord of the Sabbath? Who gave Him the right?”

LESSON CONTEXT

Observing a seven-day week that included one day of rest (Sabbath) was a distinctive practice of ancient Israel. An ancient king might declare a rest day to celebrate a great victory, but regular, periodic rest was a revolutionary idea. For the most part, ancient peoples were expected to work every day.

Sabbath was a gift that God gave through the Law of Moses (Exodus 20:8–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15). It commemorated two of God’s mighty acts. First, God completed the work of creation and rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:1–3; compare Exodus 20:11). Second, God liberated His people from oppression in the land of Egypt, a place where they were not allowed rest. Rest was a gift from God—even the animals got a day off (Deuteronomy 5:12–15).

Thus, Sabbath was not only a blessing but also an expression of faith. The challenge was to trust God that six days of labor would be enough to sustain life as God provided for His people. That required a lot of faith in a pre-industrial agrarian era!

The Law of Moses extended observance of Sabbath to include one year out of seven; on every seventh year, the fields were to remain uncultivated, debts would be forgiven, and enslaved people emancipated (Leviticus 25:1–8; Deuteronomy 15:1–18). In the Year of Jubilee—which came after seven Sabbath years (49 years total)—any land that had been sold would return to its original owners (Leviticus 25:8–22). Through these commands, God promised blessing and fruitfulness in the land He had given Israel as an inheritance.

But keeping Sabbath had been a controversial topic for centuries by Jesus’ day. Israel’s prophets had spoken out against hypocritical Sabbath observance (examples: Isaiah 1:13; Amos 8:3–6). Jeremiah had warned Jerusalem that failure to keep Sabbath would lead to destruction (Jeremiah 17:27). The prophets also looked forward to a day when Sabbath would be kept properly, when God’s blessing would be restored to the nation of Israel, and even other nations would join in worshiping God for His mighty acts (Isaiah 66:22–23; Jeremiah 17:24–26).

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day responded by emphasizing meticulous observance of Sabbath. Their “oral Torah” (traditions passed down by word of mouth) had amplified regulations that prevented a person from even coming close to breaking the commandments. Such traditions defined what constituted “work” that could and could not be performed on the Sabbath.

LESSON

1. At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

In the discourse immediately before this, Jesus told all who were tired to find “rest” in Him (Matthew 11:28–30). It meant that what Sabbath promised, Jesus offered in abundance. So, it is no surprise that immediately after this promise of abundance, Matthew recorded a controversy about Sabbath.

Travel on the day of rest was itself controversial, since an extended journey is incompatible with a day of rest. Acts 1:12 mentions “a sabbath day’s journey,” which means the distance the rabbis considered permissible to travel on a Sabbath. It was an imprecise measurement, approximately the distance a person would walk to synagogue, about a kilometer.

When we see the phrase ears of corn, we should note that maize or corn is native to North America. Thus, the word corn means a different type of grain in this context, perhaps barley or wheat. These crops were staple foods for anyone who consumed a Mediterranean diet of the era.

According to the Law of Moses, one could satisfy hunger while traveling by plucking fruit or grain from nearby fields (Deuteronomy 23:24–25). It was not stealing, for this was part of the Law’s expectation to show generosity. Thus, it was perfectly acceptable to eat from the land while traveling. But the fact that this happened on the sabbath day sparked a controversy.

2. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

The Pharisees viewed plucking grain as work since it involved forms of harvesting, threshing, and winnowing. Even miniature forms of these were “work.” So, in the view of Pharisees who observed this behavior, Christ’s disciples were violating the Law in multiple ways. The Pharisees were making what seemed like a valid point: did Jesus really intend to ignore the command of God to “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8)? Instead of eating, why didn’t Jesus’ disciples fast?

The Pharisees did not denounce the disciples directly. They took up their complaint with Jesus, which displays their real concern. Beginning in Matthew 9:1–7, Jesus had done controversial things in the sight of religious teachers: forgiving sins and calling himself “the Son of man.” These teachers were less interested in religious principles than in undermining Jesus and His popularity with crowds because Jesus represented a threat to their religious authority (John 11:48).

As these Pharisees framed the issue, there could be no debate whether the small actions of the disciples counted as work. They did not ask questions; they started with an accusation. The Pharisees assumed the rightness of their own interpretations and ignored the issue of the disciples’ hunger. They also assumed Jesus was responsible for whatever His followers were doing. If these disciples worked on the Sabbath, the observers believed that Jesus gave permission. Therefore, they point out an apparent affront against Israel’s God and His commandments. Just who does this Jesus think that He is?

3. But he said unto them, have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him.

Jesus did not debate the nature of work or the intention of Sabbath rest. Jesus responded as a Jewish rabbi might be expected to respond by drawing a comparison from Scripture. Jesus’ audience would not have missed that He was comparing His and His disciples’ actions to what David did … and they that were with him.

By drawing a comparison with David, Jesus not-so-subtly hinted that He possessed a kingly prerogative. This continues a central theme Matthew did not want his audience to miss: Jesus is the rightful Davidic king. The very first verse of Matthew’s Gospel calls Jesus “the son of David” (Matthew 1:1); Matthew’s genealogy takes special interest in connecting Jesus to David (1:17, 20); other people called Jesus the “Son of David” (9:27); and here in Matthew 12, Jesus compared himself to King David to explain His actions.

4. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

In the narrative of 1 Samuel 21:1–6, David and his men sought food from the priest Ahimelech. At the time, the only bread in the tabernacle was the bread in the holy place (shewbread), which the Law allowed priests to eat but no one else (see Leviticus 24:8–9). Still, Ahimelech recognized David as God’s anointed king, and he nonetheless gave David and his men the bread. It is a story about a king and his men in desperate need.

Jesus did not say that extreme hunger is an exception that allows breaking ceremonial rules. In fact, Jesus taught that violating a single command of God made a person “least in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19). And unlike David’s men, Jesus’ disciples were not on the run from enemies.

However, the statement in this verse implies a comparison from David (a lesser example) to Jesus (a greater example). Ahimelech acted in mercy, but more importantly, he recognized the authority of a king, one whom God’s prophet had anointed. Jesus was also a king, a greater one. If it were right for King David to eat shewbread, it would be even more acceptable for Jesus’ followers to eat “bread” that God had provided them, for they were crucial people of the Messiah’s mission. They should be granted at least as much leeway as David’s men were!

 What Do You Think?

   How can the practice of asking questions be an effective tool for strengthening the spiritual walk of another person?

 Digging Deeper

   What resources and training will you seek to help you ask effective questions?

Sleeping In

My children worked hard in high school and always wanted to do their best in classes and activities. All three were in marching band, so their schedules were busy during that season. They had two hours of practice every morning and at least two evening practices each week. Many Fridays, they stayed out late performing at football games. On Saturdays, they attended band competitions, which lasted late into the night. They did all this in addition to schoolwork. Needless to say, they often felt tired.

Some mornings, they struggled to get up for practice and felt exhausted as the day progressed. As a mom, my heart went out to them. I encouraged them to stay home to take a day off to rest. Even though their commitments were important, physical and mental health was not something I would disregard. And as their parent, it was my call to make.

Jesus was the one with authority in the situation in Matthew 12, although that’s precisely what bothered His opponents. Jesus could call the shots and prioritize the physical needs of His disciples. Have you had an occasion when God has asked you to prioritize your mental and physical health? Do you listen to the voice of your King when He tells you to show yourself mercy? —L. M. W

5. Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Jesus provided a second scriptural argument. Once again, He did not say there are exceptions to the rules about rest on the Sabbath, nor did He minimize His disciples’ actions. Instead, He made a claim about His own authority and identity.

For ordinary Jews, work stopped on the Sabbath. But what about priests? By necessity, their duties continued. The temple had tasks that needed tending every day, like daily offerings and changing the bread of the presence (Numbers 28:1–8). Thus, priests carried out their duties in the sacred space on every Sabbath day. That is what Jesus meant when He said they profane the sabbath. Neither the Law of Moses nor the Pharisees’ regulations forbade this. That is why these priests were blameless. However, skeptics might wonder why any of this is relevant to what Jesus and His followers were allowed to do. Jesus did not claim to be a Levitical priest, and the disciples were not performing sacrifices. So Jesus continued.

 What Do You Think?

   How will you support ministry leaders whose work consists of serving others on days of worship?

 Digging Deeper

   How will you ensure that you are continually praying for these individuals?

6. But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.

Jesus had compared himself to David indirectly. Here, He compared himself to the temple directly, showing precisely the point He was making. If Jesus claimed to be greater than the temple, that meant He was greater than the location where God’s people honored His holy presence.

For one thing, a temple that lasted forever was supposed to be built by a promised Son of David (2 Samuel 7:13). Jesus accepted His title as David’s greater Son (see comments on Matthew 12:3, above). Furthermore, Jesus claimed to fulfill the function of the temple. The temple mediated the presence of God, and the priestly sacrifices for sin were meant to cover God’s people: “The priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him” (Leviticus 4:35). But Jesus offered forgiveness of sins without needing a temple of stone and wood. He could only do this with the authority of God (Matthew 9:1–8). Later, when Jesus observed Passover with His disciples, He used bread and wine as images of a new covenant with God’s people (26:26–29; compare Jeremiah 31:31–34). Thus what the temple was intended to do, Jesus fulfilled in and through himself.

These words did nothing to quell the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees objected to Jesus’ Sabbath practice, but their real objection was to Him. But His responses made even greater claims of authority! He portrayed himself as a king on a mission, and He portrayed His disciples as priests who serve in the presence of a greater temple.

7. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Jesus turned His attention to a related issue arising from the Pharisees’ criticism. Hosea 6:6 says, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Offerings, the sacrifices that God himself instituted in the Law of Moses, could be rejected when they were given hypocritically—meaning when a person was otherwise being unmerciful toward others. God redeemed His people through an act of mercy, and this fact could not be ignored in a setting of worship.

The prophet Hosea understood mercy, for God had called him to marry a sexually immoral woman (Hosea 1:2). Hosea’s wife abandoned him, but God called him to find her again, to pay the price of her freedom, and to take her back as his wife (3:1–2). Hosea’s marriage became a dramatic sign of the kind of merciful, gracious love God shows for wayward people. It anticipated the way that God would give Jesus to save people from the enslaving powers of sin (Romans 6:18).

Therefore, to live without mercy is the greatest affront to God (see also the parable in Matthew 18:21–35). Even worse, Jesus said the Pharisees had condemned the guiltless. The disciples had not done anything wrong in the first place, and yet still they were accused.

Jesus’ opponents had lost sight of God’s mercy, trusting in their own rigor to keep the Law and to receive God’s blessing. Even when Jesus, the very image of God’s mercy, stood before them, they could not see past their own judgments. They were blind to the glory of the King.

 What Do You Think?

   What would it look like for you to show “mercy … not sacrifice” in the upcoming week?

 Digging Deeper

   How can you help your congregation improve its extensions of mercy?

8. For the Son of man is LORD even of the sabbath day.

The story ends with a memorable saying, which is both a summary and a climax. Instead of saying “I,” Jesus calls himself the Son of man. This title had a complex history. A figure called “one like the Son of man” is mentioned in the vision of Daniel 7:13. The figure from Daniel is mysterious: someone to whom God gives “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom” (Daniel 7:14). Scholars disagree about how much this phrase was used as a title in Jesus’ day. It could be that some people associated the title Son of man with political and military power. Alternatively, Jesus might have adopted the term to “fly under the radar” and present himself as a different kind of ruler.

Elsewhere, Jesus claims that the Son of man possesses authority. Jesus had shown that the Son of man had the authority to forgive sins, something God alone can do (Matthew 9:1–8). Jesus had also used the title to speak of himself as a lowly figure: “The Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (8:20). Here, Jesus claimed that He, as the Son of man, could be the one to establish the meaning of faithful observance of Sabbath. Since the Jewish people understood Sabbath as God’s gift to them, claiming authority over Sabbath was bold. It would mean that Jesus was responsible for creation, which was the reason why God had the right to give Sabbath in the first place.

Additionally, the term Lord could be applied to any figure of authority, but it was frequently used to translate the divine name of God from Hebrew into Greek. To claim to be Lord even of the sabbath day left little room for doubt: Jesus possessed authority belonging to God. Jesus will say more about this after Peter calls Jesus “the Christ” (Matthew 16:16). He will speak of the Son of man as one who shall be arrested, put to death, and rise from the grave (17:22–23). And one day, the Son of man will return “in the glory of his Father with his angels” to bring just reward to God’s people (16:27–28).

 What Do You Think?

   What is the spiritual significance of the title “Son of man”?

 Digging Deeper

   How would you explain this significance to someone new to faith in Jesus?

Authority Undercover

If you have not seen an episode of Undercover Boss, you are missing out! A typical episode follows a company’s owner or CEO as he or she dons a disguise and enters the workforce as a low-level employee of the company. Sometimes, the boss is the one humbled and transformed by the experience. But in nearly every episode, workers are rewarded or punished according to their behavior (which the boss witnessed first-hand). Who doesn’t love to see people get what they deserve, good or bad?

Imagine that an undercover owner arrived at work and parked in the “Manager Only” section. If the shift manager spotted this, would he or she try to set the employee straight? It would appear that the “new employee” was not obeying the rules. But if the company’s owner revealed her identity, she might say, “It doesn’t matter whether you think I broke the rules. I own the place.”

That’s not so different from what Jesus claimed by calling himself “Lord … of the sabbath day.” Whatever the rules might be, Jesus was the one with authority over them. Perhaps, like me, you’ve had times when you’ve gotten so concerned with rules that you’ve forgotten to ask what Jesus would say about it. How would Jesus respond if He went undercover in your life and examined your actions toward others? —J. H.

CONCLUSION

Lordship is the Issue

This story looks at first like it will show how to observe Sabbath: as a gift and not a burden. Instead, the story is about the one who fulfills what Sabbath promises. It is about His authority and the blessing He brings. Jesus is a King, greater than His ancestor David. Jesus’ disciples were like priests because they served a person greater than the temple. And Jesus is the Son of Man, for He is the Creator and Redeemer. He is God, who gave Sabbath in the first place.

Regardless of our understanding of Sabbath observance, all Christians can affirm that Jesus is Lord—even Lord of the Sabbath. Today’s text challenges readers to acknowledge Jesus’ authority. As King, He is able to provide good things: forgiveness, rest, and an eternal kingdom. The Lord of the Sabbath has given himself freely for our sakes, and we are responsible for showing mercy. If you want to honor the one with authority over Sabbath, start there.

 What Do You Think?

   What steps must you take to acknowledge and accept Jesus’ authority as Lord and King?

 Digging Deeper

   How can you share this message with an unbelieving friend or neighbor in a culturally sensitive way?