At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” —Matthew 12:1-8
The primary focus of
“At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain.” —Matthew 12:1
“Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as good as the other.” —Matthew 12:13
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not argue or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick until he has led justice to victory. The nations will put their hope in his name.” —Matthew 12:18-21
“See, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” —Matthew 12:2
“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” —Matthew 12:10
“…the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him.” —Matthew 12:14
The Pharisees loved the “
Jesus’ loved
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” —Matthew 22:37-40
“Love evokes likeness. We become like what we love.” —James Finley
What is the foremost love of your life?
“If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.” —Matthew 12:7
For further study:
Scripture: 1 Samuel 21:1-6; Hosea 6:1-11; Matthew 23:1-36
Resources: “Seeking God” by Trevor Hudson
Community Group Guide:
In what ways does the focus of your love shape your life?
Why do we, like the Pharisees, love other things more than God?
What do you think would change in God was the primary focus of our love in regards to: ourselves, our church, and our city?
To prepare for next week: Read and meditate on Matthew 14