“The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” | Luke 5:33-6:11
Luke 5:33–39 (ESV)
A Question About Fasting
33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”
Luke 6:1–5 (ESV)
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
6 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
Luke 6:6-11 (ESV)
A Man with a Withered Hand
6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
CONCEPTS
1. Fasting (νηστεύω) to abstain from certain foods, as for religious reasons…recognized by the phrase “to afflict oneself” in the Old Testament
2. Sabbath (σάββατον) the seventh day of the week in Israel’s calendar, marked by rest from work and by special religious ceremonies
CONFLICT(S)
1. Legalism
2. Antinomianism (anti = against; nomos = law)
CLARIFICATIONS
1. Jesus is the embodiment of the Law.
2. Jesus is Lord (and Creator) of the Sabbath.
3. Jesus is the giver of good gifts.
INVITATION
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
~ St. Augustine of Hippo
Community Questions
- Take turns reading the three passages (Luke 5:33-39, Luke 6:1-5, Luke 6:6-11). Anything reveal God’s holiness? Man’s waywardness?
- What do you think about fasting? Ever tried it? Challenges? Spiritual benefits?
- What do you think about sabbath? Ever tried it? Challenges? Spiritual benefits?
- What are your default activities for “rest”? Do these activities direct you toward or distract you from the Lord of the Sabbath’s promised rest?
- The sabbath is the most sacred day on the calendar for Jewish people…and they get to celebrate it 52 times a year! Can you imagine getting to celebrate Christmas or Thanksgiving each week?! What are a few ideas you’ve got to help plan for sabbath day of rest? (invite some friends/family, prepare special food, eat in a different location, go to bed early, try a different recreational activity, take a walk in the woods, listen to worship music, etc.)