Weekly Sermons
- Details
- Series: Matthew Teaching
- Date:
- Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14
Making the Most of SONdays - Matthew 12:1-14
When the child of God
Looks into the word of God
And sees the Son of God
They are transformed by the Spirit of God
Into the image of God
For the glory of God
-Warren Wiersbe
Matthew 12:1-14
Jesus gets hassled on the way to worship - V. 1-2
If you go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain. - Deut. 23:25
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; but it is they that bear witness about Me. - John 5:39
The Old Testament said the Sabbath was to be a day of solemn rest. No work or gathering was to be done on that day. (Ex. 16:25-26). It was to be kept holy, or set apart for worship of God (Ex. 20:8-11).
Jesus answers their criticism from Scripture - V. 3-5
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. - Romans 15:4
There was no common bread available for David and his men to eat, but there was the holy showbread that only the priests could consume. The priest recognized this was a time for an exception to the rule based on necessity, and let David and his men eat the holy bread, as long as they were not currently sexually impure (1 Samuel 21).
Jesus states that the priests on duty work every Sabbath they serve. They labor by removing the showbread, preparing fire for the sacrifices, and performing all their Temple service. The point Jesus is making here is that the Law ordains labor for some on the Sabbath as a duty.
Jesus makes 3 key statements about worship day - V. 6-8
1. From verse 6 we see that God is greater than the buildings He is worshipped in during our SONday gatherings!
For I desire steadfast love (HESED) and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. - Hosea 6:6
2. From verse 7 we see that loving God and others must be prioritized in our SONday gatherings!
And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” - Mark 2:27
3. From verse 8 we learn that Jesus is also the Lord over the realm of time – He is Lord over the rhythm in our lives involving cycles of work and rest. The misuse of the Sabbath by the Pharisees should not keep us from honoring God’s seventh day rest principle.
Note that God commemorated a day of rest and worship to bless mankind BEFORE He gave Israel the Law. The Sabbath was the way Israel was commanded to observe the 7th day principle; Most Christians observe it on Sundays, the day Jesus rose from the dead!
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. - Matt. 28:1
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered to break bread, Paul talked with them… - Acts 20:7a
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are also to do. On the first day of EVERY week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I arrive. - 1 Cor. 16:1-2
Jesus makes the most of His SONday - V. 9-14
I love Jesus’ statement in verse 12 – Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So then it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” People then and far too many people now treat their animals and their possessions as more important than people God calls them to minister to. But Jesus places the highest value on seeing people get ministered to.
“When it came to his own glory, Liddell would surrender it all rather than run on Sunday. But when it came to the good of children in a prison camp, he would referee on Sunday. Liddell would sacrifice a gold medal for himself in the name of truth but would bend over backward for others in the name of grace.” - Randy Alcorn, page 79, The Grace and Truth Paradox