Sermon Tone Analysis

Lord of the Sabbath

Matthew 12:1-21   |   Shaun LePage   |   March 25, 2007

 

I.

*Introduction*

A.    Excerpt from “Churches That Abuse” (below); Jesus: “Don’t pick on the defenseless.

I’m the issue.”???

B.    Matthew 1-10—Jesus presenting Himself to Israel as King.

Ch 11 begins His rejection.

Chs.

12–13 one day; rebellion against King getting more fierce; Rejected John; now rejecting their King.

II.     *Body—3 Confrontations in Matthew 12:1-21 *(read one section at a time) [*Chart]*

A.    Confrontation #1 (1-8) [Note: confrontation is necessary when bullies pick on the innocent]

| Verses | Bullies | Innocent | Defender |

| 1-8 | The Pharisees (v.2) | Jesus’ hungry disciples (v.1) | Jesus (vs.3-8) |

1.     *(1-2) *Lawful—Deut 23:25.

“Not lawful to do on a Sabbath”—the issue—Ex 16:22ff; 20:8-11.

Pharisees not strictest sect, original intent to help people know what could and could not be done on Sabbath.

Rabbis developed lists of tasks prohibited including sowing, plowing, reaping, but also silliness: carrying a child, tying~/untying a knot, writing~/erasing 2 letters, sexual intercourse, etc. | So, “picking” was harvesting ~/ work according to rabbis (“grainfields” vague; some type of crop; Lu 6:1 adds “rubbing them in their hands” probably wheat—thresh)

2.     *(3-5) *Jesus disagreed—2 examples to show Sabbath laws do not restrict deeds of necessity:

a)     *(3-4) *David—the great king (1 Sam 21) ate what was “unlawful” (not Sabbath); hunger outweighs Sabbath; in fact, rabbis said it was unlawful to fast on the Sabbath—Catch-22!

b)     *(5) *Num 28:9ff commands priests to work on Sabbath.

Serving God outweighs Sabbath.

3.     *(6) *“Something greater”—Jesus!

King—greater than David.

Priest—greater than temple or temple priests.

Disciples were serving “something greater”—this outweighed Sabbath.

4.     *(7) *“But…” (also 9:13).

They didn’t know what God really wanted!

“Compassion” (Hos 6:6, dsj is loyal love, mercy, grace, lovingkindness) not “sacrifice”—adherence to law without inner devotion to God leads to judgmentalism, legalism and “condemning the innocent”.

5.     *(8) *Question: how do you know what God intended, Jesus?

“Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Jesus claimed to be God!

He gave Sabbath laws.

He can supercede the rabbis’ rules.

He knew and kept the spirit of the Sabbath laws because He is Lord of the Sabbath!

B.    Confrontation #2 (9-16):

| Verses | Bullies | Innocent | Defender |

| 1-8 | The Pharisees (v.2) | Jesus’ hungry disciples (v.1) | Jesus (vs.3-8) |

| 9-13 | “They” (v.9; Pharisees vs.2,14) | Man with withered hand (v.10) | Jesus (vs.11-16) |

1.     *(9) *“departing…synagogue”—Jesus doing what Jews did on Sabbath—worship at synagogue.

2.     *(10) *“withered” (*ξηρός*—scorching~/boiled) | “Lawful to heal?” Stupid question!

Worse—evil question from evil motives: “so that they might accuse Him.”

No compassion!

3.     *(11-13) *Rabbis allowed some exceptions.

“Healing” sick animals was allowed.

Jesus argued from their laws this time—“will you not lift a sheep out of a pit?” Expected answer: Of course you will!

Then, from lesser to greater: You can heal animals—why not a man?

Surely healing outweighed Sabbath laws.

Boldly: “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

So He did it!

(v.13)—this led to the third confrontation.

C.

Confrontation #3 (17-21) Jesus “withdrew” from this confrontation—for now.

Indication of what was to come!

Israel was rejecting her King!

| Verses | Bullies | Innocent | Defender |

| 1-8 | The Pharisees (v.2) | Jesus’ hungry disciples (v.1) | Jesus (vs.3-8) |

| 9-13 | “They” (v.9; Pharisees vs.2,14) | Man with withered hand (v.10) | Jesus (vs.11-16) |

| 14-21 | The Pharisees (v.14) | Jesus (vs.15-16) | Father~/Isaiah~/Bible (vs.17-21) |

1.     *(14) *Was there awe at this miracle?

Worship Jesus?

Compassion for man—just let it go?

No, “conspired against Him…destroy Him.” Legalism blinded them to what was most important.

2.     *(15-16) *“Aware of this (omniscient), withdrew”—why?

Many followed (in contrast to Pharisees) and Jesus “healed them all”!

“Warned them not to tell”—why?

Not time for final confrontation.

He knew they would “conspire~/accuse~/destroy (kill)” Him—He’d pick the time.

3.     *(17-21) *“Fulfill” again (at least 7 times before; Jesus is Messiah—preannounced).

From Isaiah 42:1-4—longest OT quote in Matt.;

What was specifically “fulfilled” here?

a)     *(17-18; 21) *“My Servant…Beloved” again identifies Jesus as Messiah.

“Chosen” One prophets said was coming | “Spirit upon Him” (Trinity; baptism) | “Gentiles” indicates the shift about to take place—sent apostles to “house of Israel”; rejected Messiah to Gentiles.

b)     *(19-20) *Isaiah revealed character of Messiah: “not quarrel” with opponents; “withdrawal” fits with “not…cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets”; “battered reed…break off ~/ smoldering wick…put out” is a picture of incredible compassion.

“Battered reed” on the verge of breaking.

“Smoldering wick” on the verge of burning out.

(1)  Compassionate toward the lost (contrast to Pharisees)? Certainly true of Jesus’ character.

Goes well with 11:28-30, “weary and heavy-laden”.

(2)  Another possibility: Not going to “finish off” His enemies yet.

Compassion allows them even more time.

Goes well with “until He leads justice to victory”.

He will judge, but for now He is being patient with them—2 Peter 3:9.

III.

Lessons from the Lord of the Sabbath:

A.    Recognize the identity of Jesus.

Who is Jesus?

Legalists: Sabbath breaker.

Jesus called Himself Lord of the Sabbath (God, King, Priest, Messiah~/Servant~/Beloved, etc.).

B.    Observe the Sabbath through Jesus.

Legalists made it exhausting.

Jesus made it truly restful (11:28-30).

“Shabath” means “rest.”

1.     Must we obey the precept?

No!

a)     The Sabbath was a sign for Jews.

Ex 31:16-17

b)     The Sabbath was a shadow of Christ.

Col 2:13-17

2.     Must we obey the principle?

Yes!