Sermon - AudioMatt 12:1-21, Mark 3, & Luke 6 - Reading
Matt 12:1-21, Mark 3, & Luke 6 - Audio
Daily Insights - Please Comment
Each of today’s passages starts with “Lord of the Sabbath.” To begin, here are a few insights into this text, followed by some specifics from each individual passage.
The name Pharisee comes from a root meaning “separated,” and started as a group that protected their religion from bad influences. It became a group of hyper-sensitive people keeping the letter of the law.
According to the Pharisees’ oral law, a person was allowed to spit on rocky ground on the Sabbath. But he could not spit on soft or dusty earth; the spittle might move the dirt and that would constitute plowing! In this way the oral law often robbed the written Law of its real message—a message of godly concern for others.
Through this disagreement, Jesus exposed more and more clearly the sinfulness of current attitudes and ways.
Jesus was demanding that they choose between His revelation of God and His ways, and their own dearly held beliefs. The leaders became hostile; Jesus was no longer someone who sparked curiosity -- he had become a threat.
Matthew 12:1-21
The Pharisees were splitting hairs with their technicalities about reaping, threshing, etc. They failed to understand compassion for people’s basic needs (in this case, the disciples’ hunger), but were intense in their concern for the sacrifices. Jesus reminded them of the words in Hosea 6:6, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, that is, inner spiritual vitality, not mere external formality.
Mark 3
v. 28 Jesus declared, All the sins and blasphemies (derogatory words vs. God) of people are open to God’s gracious forgiveness with one exception—blasphemies against the Holy Spirit. In light of the context this refers to an attitude (not an isolated act or utterance) of defiant hostility toward God that rejects His saving power toward humanity, expressed in the Spirit-empowered person and work of Jesus. It is one’s preference for darkness even though he/she has been exposed to light.
Luke 6
v. 17 The words seem stark – “Blessed are”, and “Woe to you” -- they seem at first to contradict common sense. Who would willingly choose the “blessed” circumstances of poverty, hunger, weeping, and hatred?
To understand Jesus here, we need to realize that His contrast is not between two sets of circumstances, but between ways people react to life in this world. We know, for example, that there is nothing wrong with riches (1 Tim. 6:17–19). So Jesus was not condemning wealth, but it is a love of money which is a root of every evil, not money itself. In desiring wealth, in fixing one’s heart on money, a person opens oneself up to woes.
--Bible Knowledge Commentary -- Teacher’s Commentary--
The name Pharisee comes from a root meaning “separated,” and started as a group that protected their religion from bad influences. It became a group of hyper-sensitive people keeping the letter of the law.
According to the Pharisees’ oral law, a person was allowed to spit on rocky ground on the Sabbath. But he could not spit on soft or dusty earth; the spittle might move the dirt and that would constitute plowing! In this way the oral law often robbed the written Law of its real message—a message of godly concern for others.
Through this disagreement, Jesus exposed more and more clearly the sinfulness of current attitudes and ways.
Jesus was demanding that they choose between His revelation of God and His ways, and their own dearly held beliefs. The leaders became hostile; Jesus was no longer someone who sparked curiosity -- he had become a threat.
Matthew 12:1-21
The Pharisees were splitting hairs with their technicalities about reaping, threshing, etc. They failed to understand compassion for people’s basic needs (in this case, the disciples’ hunger), but were intense in their concern for the sacrifices. Jesus reminded them of the words in Hosea 6:6, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, that is, inner spiritual vitality, not mere external formality.
Mark 3
v. 28 Jesus declared, All the sins and blasphemies (derogatory words vs. God) of people are open to God’s gracious forgiveness with one exception—blasphemies against the Holy Spirit. In light of the context this refers to an attitude (not an isolated act or utterance) of defiant hostility toward God that rejects His saving power toward humanity, expressed in the Spirit-empowered person and work of Jesus. It is one’s preference for darkness even though he/she has been exposed to light.
Luke 6
v. 17 The words seem stark – “Blessed are”, and “Woe to you” -- they seem at first to contradict common sense. Who would willingly choose the “blessed” circumstances of poverty, hunger, weeping, and hatred?
To understand Jesus here, we need to realize that His contrast is not between two sets of circumstances, but between ways people react to life in this world. We know, for example, that there is nothing wrong with riches (1 Tim. 6:17–19). So Jesus was not condemning wealth, but it is a love of money which is a root of every evil, not money itself. In desiring wealth, in fixing one’s heart on money, a person opens oneself up to woes.
--Bible Knowledge Commentary -- Teacher’s Commentary--
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