The Son of Man Is Lord of the Sabbath
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
12/4/2016 PM
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Text:
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Matthew 12:1-8
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Psalters: |
290, 86, 287, 320 |
- The controversy with Pharisees.
- The Pharisees criticized Jesus’ disciples plucked, rubbed and ate grain on the Sabbath day.
- While God forbad work on the Sabbath (Ex. 20:10; 34:21), including rubbing grain (Luke 6:1).
- The accusation was really at Jesus for not only permitting but even approving it.
- Jesus condemns the Pharisees for putting a legalistic interpretation on the spiritual institution of the Sabbath.
- The Lordship of Jesus.
- Jesus declares that the Sabbath was created and instituted to be a blessing for man.
- God’s rest was not inactivity (John 5:17), but He stopped the work of creating and He reflected on and enjoyed His work.
- Thus God sanctified and blessed the day, making the Sabbath blessed for man too.
- Our weekly Sabbaths are not the final Sabbath God would have with His people.
- Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.
- He is Lord of all as the Son of man, including His being Lord of the Sabbath.
- At the same time Jesus defends the Sabbath as defined in Scripture: “Have ye not read…” (3,5).
- Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath, had the right, under the necessity to eat, to set aside the divine ceremonial law.
- Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath, gave the Sabbath to man so man might use it in spiritual service of God.
- It is spiritual activity (faith) in the things of God’s kingdom – not for recreation and pleasure-seeking (rest from daily toil).
- Proper observance of the Sabbath (rest in Christ and living in hope of the eternal Sabbath) bears wonderful fruit.