The Bible

 

Matthew 12:1-8 : Lord of the Sabbath

Study

1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath through the cornfields; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears and to eat.

2 But the Pharisees, seeing [it], said to him, Behold, thy disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on sabbath.

3 But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him?

4 How he entered into the house of God, and ate the shewbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him, but for the priests only?

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

6 But I say unto you, that there is here what is greater than the temple.

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

8 For the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath.

Commentary

 

Lord of the Sabbath

By Junchol Lee


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In Matthew 12, the teachings of Jesus seem truly revolutionary and liberating in that he proclaims: "Something greater than the temple is here (12:6)" and "For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath (12:8)". How can there be something that is greater than the temple? This question might have come into your mind if you were there and were listening to Jesus at that time. Then, he claims ownership of the Sabbath! Here are the two key and central words: temple and Sabbath. Again, what is it really that Jesus intends to teach us in this particular teaching?

(References: Exodus 20:8)