(1) Common terms: Sabbath, what is against the law
a) v.23-28 (BKC) While walking on a footpath through someone’s grainfields one Sabbath, Jesus’ disciples … began picking some heads of grain to eat. This was legitimate (Deut. 23:25), but the Pharisees viewed it as reaping, an act of work forbidden on the Sabbath (cf. Ex. 34:21), so they demanded an explanation from Jesus.
Jesus' explanation was basically telling them that He knew the original meaning of Sabbath. It was a day set up by God so that man can have rest and worship God v.27. He could tell them that because He is the Lord or master of the Sabbath v.28.
b) 3:1-6 However, those who heard Jesus were not convinced. They continued to watch Jesus to see if He would heal a crippled man on Sabbath v.2.
(NET) The background for this is the view that only if life was endangered should one attempt to heal on the Sabbath
If they, as the people of God, would allow for emergency healing to do good, how come Jesus would not do non-emergency healing? Actually, they had no answer, but they refused to listen with a hardened heart. Even though they witnessed the miracle healing they did not want to recognize Jesus as the Law-giver. All they could think of was to get rid of Him.
(2) Reflection: Do we accept Jesus' authority in our lives? We think we know more than Jesus. The Pharisees saw themselves as experts in the Law. No one could tell them what the Law allows or what the Law means. Even when God provided us the evidence that He actually is the Lord of our lives we shut our ears to Him. Do we?
Audrey
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