PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 6:1-11
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” (Luke 6:2)
The 4th command is to honour the sabbath day by not working (Exodus 20:8-11).
Is picking heads of grain for a snack work?
This seems like a very legalistic reading of the law.
It focuses more on the letter of the law, rather than its intent.
Jesus shows that the law is meant to promote what is good.
To do good, to save life, to protect workers, to allow rest time.
The Pharisees were mote concerned about protecting the law, than people.
They added interpretations to the laws, and treated them as law.
This continues to be a problem today – making our interpretations law.
The heart of God’s Law is love, to do good and to save life.
The Moses Laws are examples meant to point us towards this.
Protecting workers, providing for priests – these are good!
Hindering the hungry, refusing the needy – these are evil!
It is lawful to do good and save life everyday – this is God’s Law!
PRAYER
Lord, forgive us for using the Law to hinder and harm, and not to do good and to save. Help us not to our add rules to your Law that work against the purpose of your Law of Love.
The law has it’s place – it’s intentions are to protect and set standards to live by. We protect our loved ones – it is part of our love for them. “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” As Jesus reminds us here, what is lawful is to do good – to protect – to love. That is the underwritten intent of the law – it is why God gave Moses the law – it’s intent is to protect – to keep harmony and peace – it was God’s gift to the people of Israel – instead of being doing what they thought was right in their own eyes! Laws help us respect each other and build trust – try driving without traffic rules. Love is what is behind it all!
The letter of the law or the spirit of the law?
The summary of the law is – love God; love your neighbour. Whenever and wherever we do good, that is according to the law no matter the day of the week. Tradition and man made laws to serve themselves need to be changed to serve the Lord. Each and every day I need to serve Him by my words and deeds. Do good. Show love at all times. Live for Jesus. Serve Him. And when Jesus comes first in my life my deeds will be good. PTL!
Praise Him, praise Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Praise Him, praise Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Know Him, know Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Know Him, know Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Love Him, love Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Love Him, love Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Serve Him, serve Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Serve Him, serve Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Crown Him, crown Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Crown Him, Crown Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.