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Bible Studies / New Testament / Matthew
Verse-by-Verse Bible Study

Matthew 12:1–14

The Sabbath day… vs. 1-8

MatthewNew TestamentEnglish
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
  • Review…
    • FIRST – The Presentation of the King – Matthew 1-7
    • SECOND – The Ministry of the King – Matthew 8-18
    • No Repentance…
      • Jesus sent out the TWELVE into the HARVEST – because it was RIPE – Matthew 9:37
      • But the CITIES who has seen the greatest POWER [δύναμις] of Jesus – did NOT repent…
      • Therefore he said WOE unto you: Chorazin – Bethsaida – and Capernaum…
      • If the works they had seen were done in: Tyre – Sidon – or Sodom – they would have repented!
    • Who can be saved…
      • But if the CITIES at the heart of His MINISTRY had refused to REPENT – who could be SAVED…
      • God WANTS people to go to HEAVEN – He LOVES the whole world – John 3:16
      • Therefore – the Gospel message is NOT complicated – even CHILDREN can understand it…
      • Anyone who CHOOSES to believe in Jesus – is CHOSEN by Him to know the Father…
      • Therefore ALL who have a HEAVY burden of sin – COME to Jesus and He will give REST…
      • YOKE up to Him – and He will help us live a GODLY life…
      • LEARN about Him – because salvation is a RELATIONSHIP with a LOVING God!
  • 1st – The Sabbath day… vs. 1-8
    • 1st – What is the Sabbath… vs. 1
      • From Creation – Genesis 2:3
        • At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath!
        • The Sabbath can be very confusing subject – we want to open by looking at THREE things:
        • FIRST – the SABBATH was established in the BEGINNING…
        • After the SIX days of creation there was nothing else to be done – the work was completed…
        • So God rested [שָׁבַת] – SABBATH – a word that means to stop working!
        • Just as God worked SIX days to create the World – we are only to work SIX days a week…
        • The SEVENTH day is to rest – it is known as the SABBATH – the FOURTH commandment!
        • Exodus 20:9-10 – “Six days you shall labor and do all your work – but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work…”
      • The Purpose…
        • SECOND – it was a day that God made HOLY [קָדַשׁ] – set apart to remember the LORD!
        • It used to be that EVERYTHING was closed on Sundays…
        • People could not go to the MALL – or out to EAT – it was a day to think about God!
        • I kind of wish we could go back to those days – because now we have a LOT of distractions…
        • People come to church – but it seems like the service is on a TIMER…
        • We CHECK in so we can say we did our part for God this week – then RUSH out the door…
        • But in our BUSY schedule it can be easy to MISS – we exist to KNOW Him!
        • John 17:3 – “This is eternal life – that we may know Jesus!”
      • Day of the Week…
        • THIRD – Saturday is the Jewish SABBATH – from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday…
        • We still have the word SABBATH in Ilonggo – Sabado means SABBATH [day to rest]!
        • We might ask – then why do we come to church on SUNDAY…
        • In the book of Acts the church gathered together on SUNDAYS – Acts 20:7
        • SUNDAY was the FIRST day of the week on the Jewish calendar…
        • They did this to remember the resurrection of Jesus – FIRST day of the week – Luke 24:1
        • That is why we consider SUNDAY – the FIRST day of the week – to be our day of rest!
    • 2nd – Forbidden to Work… vs. 1-2
      • Hungry… vs. 1
        • Jesus disciples were hungry – and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat!
        • Jesus and his DISCIPLES were walking through a FIELD on the SABBATH…
        • The DISCIPLES were HUNGRY – so they began to pick the CORN and eat it!
        • This was allowed by the Law of Moses – Deuteronomy 23:25
        • Anyone could pick food from ANY field so long as it was eaten immediately…
        • The PROBLEM was they were rubbing [cooking] the grain between their hands – Luke 6:1
      • Not Lawful… vs. 2
        • When the Pharisees saw it – they said to [Jesus]:
        • Look Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!
        • The PHARISEES were watching EVERY move of Jesus and His DISCIPLES…
        • And when they saw them COOKING – they began to COMPLAIN to Jesus…
        • Because the DISCIPLES were doing what was NOT allowed [οὐκ ἔξεστιν] on the SABBATH!
        • It is against the LAW of Moses to WORK on the SABBATH – Exodus 20:9-10
        • And the penalty for going WORK was DEATH – Numbers 15:32
        • When Israel was in the WILDERNESS – a man was found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day…
        • The punishment for his crime was to be stoned to DEATH by the people!
      • Defining Work…
        • The challenge was – the Bible said you could NOT work on the SABBATH…
        • But what constituted WORK – that is where the PHARISEES stepped in…
        • They defined what God MEANT when He said you could NOT work [39 do nots]!
        • The PHARISEES taught that it breaks the Sabbath to – pick your nose [reaping]
        • According to the PHARISEES – even turning on a light [kindling] is breaking the Sabbath!
        • Yet nowhere in the Bible are ANY of these rules given by God…
        • And the problem was these ADDED rules – took away from the SIMPLE truth…
        • The SABBATH was meant to be a day set aside [no work] to focus on the LORD!
    • 3rd – Exceptions for work… vs. 3-6
      • King David… vs. 3-4
        • Have you not read what David did when he was hungry he and those who were with him.
        • How he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat.
        • Nor for those who were with him – but only for the priests!
        • Unlike the PHARISEES – who added their OPINION to define what WORK meant [39 do nots]
        • Jesus went back to the WORD of God to find the DEFINITION…
        • He uses THREE examples from the Bible to define what is allowed on the SABBATH…
        • FIRST – did they not KNOW [γινώσκω] what the BIBLE said about David:
        • King David got hungry [like the disciples] – when he was running from Saul
        • He came to the TABERNACLE and asked for FOOD – I Samuel 21:3-6
        • The ONLY food they had were the TWELVE loaves of HOLY [קֹדֶשׁ] Bread [showbread]
        • And ONLY the Priests were allowed to eat the HOLY [קֹדֶשׁ] Bread – Leviticus 24:9
        • Yet in spite of it NOT being allowed [οὐκ ἐξὸν] – David ate the bread because he was Hungry!
        • I am always warry when people give answers by quoting the ideas of MEN…
        • If we want to KNOW what the Bible means – go back to the Bible for the answer…
        • Because the BEST commentary on the Bible – is the BIBLE!
      • The Priests… vs. 5
        • Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple…
        • Profane the Sabbath and are blameless!
        • SECOND – Jesus gave an example from the LAW of Moses…
        • Did the PHARISEES not KNOW [γινώσκω] what the BIBLE said:
        • Numbers 28:10 – “The burnt offering [are] to be presented each Sabbath day.”
        • PRIESTS were required to continue the DAILY offerings – even on the SABBATH…
        • They had to WORK on the SABBATH day – but we INNOCENT [ἀναίτιος] – 2x in NT!
      • Great than the Temple… vs. 6
        • Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple!
        • FIRST – it was OK for DAVID to EAT the Holy [קֹדֶשׁ] Bread from the TEMPLE…
        • SECOND – it was OK for the PRIESTS to WORK on the SABBATH in the TEMPLE…
        • Then the DISCIPLES of Jesus were OK to EAT [work] on the SABBATH…
        • Because Jesus is GREATER than the TEMPLE!
        • The SABBATH was NOT meant to keep men from serving God…
        • It is meant to be a day when they get to FOCUS on the LORD
        • But RELIGION does a good job of taking the BLESSINGS of God and making the BURDENS!
        • RELIGION tells us we HAVE to GIVE [including the amount]
        • Warns us that we must READ [how many chapters] – and go to CHURCH [how many times]
        • But when these things become RULES – we miss the point…
        • It is NOT about what we do for God – it is about knowing a God who did everything for us!
    • 4th – Lord of the Sabbath… vs. 7-8
      • Mercy not sacrifice… vs. 7
        • But if you had known what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.
        • You would not have condemned the guiltless!
        • Jesus gave one LAST example – but this time from the PROPHETS…
        • If the PHARISEES had KNOWN [they did not] what this meant:
        • Hosea 6:6 – “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”
        • Then they would NOT have condemned [judged] the INNOCENT [ἀναίτιος]!
      • Straining at a mosquito…
        • Matthew 23:24 – “Blind guides who strain out a [mosquito] and swallow a camel!”
        • The law forbid eating BLOOD – so PHARISEES would gag on a mosquito…
        • They made sure to follow the SMALLEST details of the law…
        • But they missed the MOST important TRUTH of the Word – they missed Jesus!
        • People still JUDGE others over unimportant issues…
        • What DAY of the week someone comes to church – what they WEARS in church…
        • What kind of SONGS they sing at church – or what BIBLE translation they teach from…
        • But what they are MISSING – is that Jesus is what CHURCH should be all about!
        • John 5:39 – “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me.”
      • Son of Man… vs. 8
        • For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath!
        • Jesus is [present] the LORD [κύριος] of the SABBATH [the rest]
        • The PHARISEES thought that the SABBATH was their REST…
        • But the SABBATH was only a SHADOW that was meant to point to the TRUE rest!
        • Colossians 2:16-17 – “Let no one judge you… regarding… sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come but the substance is of Christ.”
        • If we see the shadow of our best friend do we run up and hug the shadow…
        • But that shadow does tell us our friend is very close!
        • It is heavy to my heart to see what some have made church into…
        • A place where people come to learn RULES – and are told WHAT to do…
        • Rather than what it is meant to be – a place to come and MEET Jesus…
        • A place where we can come and find REST for our souls – Matthew 11:29-30
  • 2nd – Breaking the Sabbath… vs. 9-14
    • 1st – Testing Jesus… vs. 9-10
      • When He had departed from there He went into their synagogue.
      • Behold there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him saying:
      • Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? – that they might accuse Him!
      • Jesus and his disciples left the PHARISEES to go to CHURCH [synagogue]
      • But there was man there who had a useless hand [withered]
      • The PHARISEES [still following Jesus] looking for something to ACCUSE Him of asked:
      • Is it allowed [ἔξεστιν] to HEAL on the SABBATH day!
      • According to their INTERPRETATION of the Law – you could NOT heal on the SABBATH…
      • The MOST one could do – would be to save a life if someone was dying…
      • Anything more than that – and it would constitute WORK!
    • 2nd – Hypocrites… vs. 11-12
      • The sheep… vs. 11
        • Then He said to them: What man is there among you who has one sheep.
        • And if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath – will not lay hold of it and lift it out?
        • Jesus answered with an illustration to show the HYPOCRISY of the PHARISEES…
        • If ANY of them had a SHEEP that fell [future] into a PIT on the SABBATH…
        • Even though it would NOT kill the sheep – they could WAIT until the NEXT day…
        • NONE of them would hesitate to WORK – and get their SHEEP out of the pit…
        • Because SHEEP cost MONEY – they were EXPENSIVE!
      • Doing Good… vs. 12
        • Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep?
        • Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath!
        • The obvious answer then the QUESTION – can you HEAL on the SABBATH…
        • YES it is lawful [ἔξεστιν] to do GOOD – because a MAN is far more VALUABLE than a sheep…
        • But Jesus was not done – and asked the PHARISEES what they thought – Luke 6:9
        • If Jesus had the POWER to HELP – and did NOT help – would that be GOOD or EVIL…
        • The PHARISEES refused to answer – Mark 3:4
      • Anger…
        • Mark 3:5 – “[Jesus] looked at them with anger – grieved by the hardness of their hearts.”
        • In their attempt to follow their RULES – the religious leaders had lost sight of LOVE…
        • They would leave a man to SUFFER – rather than let Jesus HEAL…
        • Yet His anger was tempered by His grief – because of the hardness of their hearts…
        • It was their RULES that blinded them – made them HARD hearted…
        • They thought they were serving God by NOT healing a man who was suffering!
        • There was a pastor of a large church who put in NEW carpets…
        • The first Sunday some of the elders put up a sign – NO entrance without shoes…
        • Because many of the POOR that were coming to church – were barefoot…
        • When the pastor arrived – he was FURIOUS – rip OUT the carpet…
        • If a new carpet was going to KEEP people from God – he did NOT want the carpet!
        • Sadly there are MANY churches today who THINK they are serving God…
        • But all of their RULES do NOT bring people to Jesus – they keep them away…
        • Because people do NOT need to be told what to do…
        • People need to meet the God who can give them the power to do it!
    • 3rd – Healing on the Sabbath… vs. 13
      • Then He said to the man: Stretch out your hand.
      • And he stretched it out – and it was restored as whole as the other!
      • Jesus commanded [imperative] the man to stretch out his withered hand – and made it whole…
      • In total Jesus healed SEVEN times on the Sabbath – He did it to make a point…
      • Jesus did not come to FOLLOW the rules of MEN – He came to SAVE them!
      • Many in the CHURCH have gotten lost in TRADITIONS and RULES…
      • They go to Church on Sunday [maybe even twice a week]
      • They take communion every month – they read their Bibles and pray…
      • But never stop to CONSIDER why do they do all these things – they have FORGOTTEN Jesus…
      • The question needs to be asked – why are we here this morning…
      • Are we coming to church because we believe it is what we MUST do…
      • Or are we here because we desire to get to KNOW our savior!
    • 4th – Pushed too far… vs. 14
      • Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him – how they might destroy Him!
      • The PHARISEES left the CHURCH [synagogue] – and gathered together to PLOT…
      • How they might [subjunctive] be able to DESTROY [ἀπόλλυμι] Jesus…
      • This might seem like an EXTREME reaction to HEALING a man…
      • But Jesus was threatening the very CORE of their power…
      • The RULES of the PHARISEES were how they CONTROLLED the lives men…
      • And Jesus was bringing a message that could set men FREE from their RULES!
      • Too many churches seem to live by the LAW…
      • Pastors from pulpits who tell the people listening the RULES they need to live by…
      • Sadly the motive of many of these pastors is CONTROL…
      • Because the one who makes the RULES – has power over those who FOLLOW them…
      • But the message of the Gospel has the power to set us FREE!
      • John 8:36 – “If the Son makes you free – you shall be free indeed.”