Second Sunday Meditation: The Son Of Man Is Lord Even Of The Sabbath

"When you come into the standing grain of your neighbor,

you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put

a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain."

Deuteronomy 23:25

Jesus and His disciples in the cornfield

Henry Coller

"One Sabbath while Jesus was passing through the fields of

standing grain, it occurred that His disciples picked some of the spikes

and ate of the grain, rubbing it out with their hands. But some of the

Pharisees asked them, "Why are you doing what is not permitted to

be done on the Sabbath days?"

And Jesus replied to them, saying, "Have you never so much read

what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him?

How he went into the house of God and took and ate the sacred loaves

of showbread, which it is not permitted for any except only the priests

to eat, and also gave to those who were with him?"

And He said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath,"

And it occurred on another Sabbath that when He went into the

synagogue and taught, a man was present whose right hand was withered.

And the scribes and the Pharisees kept watching Jesus to see whether He

would actually heal on the Sabbath, in order that they might get some

ground for accusation against Him.

But He was aware all along of their thoughts, and He said to the man

with the withered hand, Come and stand here in the midst. And he arose

and stood there.  Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful and

right on the Sabbath to do good so that someone derives advantage from

it, or to do evil to save a life and make a soul safe or to destroy it?"

Then He glanced around at them all and said to the man, "Stretch out

your hand!"  And he did so, and his hand was fully restored like the other one.

But they (the Pharisees) were filled with lack of understanding

 and senseless rage and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Luke 6:1-11

"Many that are themselves guilty of the greatest crimes are forward to

censure others for the most innocent and inoffensive actions.  How well it is

 for us that men are not to be our judges, and that Christ will be our advocate."
-Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible

The religious leaders were upset that the disciples were eating

handfuls of corn plucked from the field on the Sabbath day, and yet, 

it has been written that the Pharisees regularly stuffed themselves

during a sumptuous repast on the Sabbath, consuming more 

food on that day than at any other time in the week.

Jesus justified what his disciples did by pointed out to these harassing hypocrites

that even hungry king David ate of the showbread in the Temple and fed those

who with him.  The Pharisees were also upset when the Lord healed the man

with the withered hand in the synagogue.  But Jesus, Who knew what they

were thinking in their hearts,  sought to rebuke their self-righteous anger 

and condemnation with this act of compassion and mercy on the Sabbath.

 Exodus 23: 12 attests:  "Six days you shall do your work, but,

the seventh day you shall rest and keep Sabbath, that your ox and your

donkey may rest, and the son of your bondswoman, and the alien

may be refreshed."

A farmer with livestock would want his working animals to be well fed

 and rested so that they would be able to do the needed work around the farm.

If one of them came down sick or was injured, would it not be only right

that the farmer tend to their illness or wounds regardless of the day?

 If a family member or friend was bedridden with illness and needed

someone to come and care for them, would it be wrong for the designated

caregiver to forego their request because it was on Sunday?

If a stranger's car broke down on the side of the road and they

flagged you down and asked you for help, would you refuse 

them or drive on merely because it was on the Sabbath?

 Jesus clearly stated to the religious leaders that works of necessity 

should always be permitted on the Sabbath Day, however, these

concessions should be based on actual need, not on our own selfish wants.

It makes me truly sad that the Sabbath Day is no longer given

 the recognition or respect in America today.  

When I was a little girl growing up in the late 1960's and early 1970's

I can remember going to church on Sundays 
and there were no stores or businesses open in our town- 
the exceptions being the two local diners and the single bakery- but,
 you had to get to the latter for fresh-baked pastries and doughnuts 

and cookies before noon, when they closed until Monday morning.

Sunday was usually spent peacefully at home and sometimes in anticipation

of a special supper, often with three generations of family in attendance,

sharing food and fellowship with each other.  Although my extended 

family was hardly "The Waltons" being together on Sunday
 with my parents,  grandparents, sisters, and brother

 will always be a time of special memories for me.

I think it is a real shame and a loss these days that my aging parents,

and my brother and sisters and their families, and myself and my sons,

 cannot plan even one nice Sunday supper to share together.

To sincerely look forward to breaking bread with those we love seated 

 around the table without the attendance at such a meal being selfishly 

 manipulated or interrupted by someone's business or "social agenda" 

 or, those family members with portable technology seemingly attached  

to their proverbial hips, who cannot seem to grasp the meanings of 

" Please be kind and turn off your cellphone"  and "No texting at the table, please."

Times and attitudes have changed, that's true.  But thankfully God does not.

And neither has His command for keeping the Sabbath Day  a holy and peaceful,

 time,  set apart from our busy lives and all that we think is so important, to

rest, to reflect, and maybe reach out to someone in need, in hopes of making 

 their lives better.  But most importantly of all,  it is a special reservation, 

and an opportunity to spend time in the presence of our Savior Jesus Christ,

"Lord, even of the Sabbath".