David Bahn – Reflections

“Something greater than the Sabbath is here…” I’m glad for that.

Matthew 12:1-8

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. ²But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” ³He said to them,  “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: ⁴how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? ⁵Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? ⁶I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. ⁷And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

When Jesus’ disciples were hungry they did what most people of his day would do: they plucked and ate some of the wheat that was growing and ate. This was not stealing, nor was it unusual. I’m guessing (no proof here!) the Pharisees had done the same thing a few times; perhaps even on the Sabbath. But the agenda of the Pharisees was not Law-Keeping; their agenda was Jesus-bashing. And they were remarkably good at it. Selective memory, forced interpretation of the Law, eagle-eyed watching for an opportunity to accuse: all these come together in their approach to life and Jesus.

That is sad. While people may try to justify their accusations by claiming to enforce the law, the enemy of our souls is called “the Accuser!” (Revelation 12:10) The devil is the one who levels accusations, points the finger of guilt and assails God’s people with indictment and charges. Let’s unmask him for who he is and be careful ourselves about leveling accusations and insinuations about others.

While Jesus defends the disciples by pointing to the actions of King David (a hero of the Jews of his day), there is a greater truth: Man is more valuable than laws. That’s not to lay aside the law, nor to call us to act defiantly or in blissful ignorance of God’s law and will. But it is to say that while the devil may well accuse us – and accurately so – of disobedience to God’s law, that’s not the whole truth of our being. Nor is it the final determination of our place in the heart of God.

God loves us. Jesus is our righteousness. We all stumble and fall, but he picks us up again, sets us on the path of life and opens his arms to us by his grace. I’m glad, most of all for that vital truth. That’s worth celebrating today.