Sabbath Controversy
Sermon 19 in Series
Luke 6:1-11
[1] On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. [2] But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” [3] And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: [4] how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” [5] And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
[6] On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. [7] And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. [8] But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. [9] And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” [10] And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. [11] But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
1. How do these conflict passages show Luke’s focus on the cross? How do we keep our attention on the cross?
2. What was the significance of the Sabbath in the Mosaic Covenant? Why do you think this issue was so prominent in Jesus’ interactions with the religious leaders?
3. What is Jesus’ two-fold response to the first criticism involving satisfying hunger? How does Matthew’s mention of “mercy” shed more light on Jesus’ thinking?
4. How does this passage prioritize compassion and meeting human needs? In what ways can our religious scruples trample on compassion for others in the scenarios of life?
5. What does the attitude of the religious leaders towards Jesus and the man with the withered hand teach us about sin and human depravity? How does this contrast with Jesus’ attitude?
6. In what ways does this passage raise your affections for Christ? How does it inform your relationship to him?
References: Matthew 12:1-14 (corporate reading); Luke 2:34-35; 4:28-30; Exodus 16:23-26; 20:8-11; 31:13-14; 1 Samuel 21:1-6; Leviticus 24:5-9; Mark 2:25, 27; Luke 13:14; Mark 3:35.
