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At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
Many of my friends refer to Sunday as the Sabbath and some friends even observe the Jewish Sabbath. In these few sentences Jesus seems to redefine the whole concept of Sabbath saying that he is the lord of the Sabbath. It reminds me of these thoughts from the fourth chapter of Hebrews:
... we who have believed enter that rest ... there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
There is a rest in believing. There is a peace that passes brainy understanding when we trust the Lord with all of our heart. Why would we ever want something one day a week when we can have it every day? Why follow the law when you can follow the spirit of the law?
Is there any doubt in anyone's mind that Jesus knew that he was God Incarnate when he speaks of being lord of the Sabbath and greater than the temple. Try to imagine what the Pharisees thought when they heard him say that he was greater than the temple of God's presence. As Jesus speaks to them he projects the idea that he is greater than King David and priests who minister in the temple. In saying these things he acknowledges the kingly and priestly nature of the Messiah. Jesus knew who he was.
Lord Jesus, I confess you as Lord of lords and King of kings. You are God.
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