Primary Text: Luke 6:1-11
Memory Verse: Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Luke 6:9-10
Introduction:
After the arrest of John the Baptist, the Jewish religious leaders increased their criticisms of Jesus. The first accusation they hurl against Jesus is that He and His disciples are violating the Sabbath. The incidents occur in a grain field and at the Synagogue.
The Pharisees had been following Jesus in order to discredit Him. When the disciples stopped at a grain field to get a small amount of nourishment, they immediately seized on that opportunity to accuse Jesus and His followers of breaking Sabbath laws. Jesus easily defends the actions of His disciples by showing the religious leaders their failure to comprehend the heart of the Law. Since they aren’t able to argue against Jesus’ Scriptural defense, the Pharisees seek to trap Him. At the Synagogue they see a man who is disabled. They are sure that Jesus won’t be able to resist healing the man, even though it was the Sabbath. Instead of directly confronting Jesus, they ask Him theoretically what He would do. Would He heal the man even though it was a Sabbath day? Jesus rebuked them for not understanding what the Scriptures say about showing mercy. He reminded them of what their own customs and teachings said about kindness and consideration. He stressed that observation of the Sabbath was important, but so was compassion.
When Jesus healed the man, the Pharisees had the ammunition they needed. They began plotting how they could kill Jesus and be rid of Him once and for all. The Pharisees were so focused on trapping Jesus that they completely missed the point. All they saw was the Law, they failed to see the spirit of the Law. How amazing it is that the people could feel justified in helping an animal that needed help on the Sabbath (i.e., removing an ox from the ditch), but couldn’t extend the same mercy and assistance to another human being. How vital it is that we move in the Spirit, and see the world through the eyes of God!
Studying the Word
Lesson Study
- Why did the harvesting of enough grain for a small meal on the Sabbath day by Jesus’ disciples incite criticism from the Pharisees? Matthew 12:1-2; Mark 2:23-24; Luke 6:1-2
- What Old Testament example did Jesus give to defend His disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? Matthew 12:3-6; Mark 2:25-27; Luke 6:3-4; 1 Samuel 21:1-6; Numbers 28:9-10
- What did Jesus say is more important than Sabbath requirements? Matthew 12:7, 11-12; Mark 3:4; Hosea 6:6
- How did the Savior again equate His authority as being equal with God? Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 1:5
- Discuss Jesus’ statement of truth that the “Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27
- On yet another Sabbath day, Jesus entered the synagogue where there was a man with a withered hand. Why were the Pharisees watching Jesus so closely? Matthew 12:9-10; Mark 3:1-2; Luke 6:6-7
- What was Jesus’ response to the close scrutiny of the Pharisees? Matthew 12:11-12; Mark 3:3-4; Luke 6:8-9
- Explain the process involved in healing the man with the withered hand. Matthew 12:13; Mark 3:5; Luke 6:10
- What was the Pharisees’ reaction to the miracle Jesus did? Matthew 12:14; Mark 3:6; Luke 6:11