Luke 6: Lord Of The Sabbath

 Luke 6: Lord Of The Sabbath

v1-11  Jesus the Lord of Sabbath (Matt 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28)

On the second Sabbath, Jesus went through the grainfields. His disciples plucked the heads of the grain, and ate them after rubbing off the chaff.  The pharisees said to them why did they do something that is not lawful for Sabbath. 

To the pharisees was citing a traditional rule that plucking is like reaping and rubbing them is like threshing. Since these are considered "works", they are not allowed to do them on Sabbath. 

Jesus answered them that David and his men, when they were hungry, went into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, which is not lawful for them to eat and was reserved for the priests only. (v1-4_ 

This story of David eating consecrated bread was found in 1 Samuel 21:6. In this story, David asked for five loaves of bread from Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek did not have normal bread and offered David the consecrated bread to them, provided they have kept themselves from women. David told him that his men has kept holy, and Ahimelek gave them the consecrated bread. 

The showbread is reserved for the priests only, as written in Leviticus 25:5-9. The showbread is baked and consecrated to God as food offering every Sabbath and only Aaron and his sons can eat it.

Jesus quote this because the showbread is a sacred food, and no one should violate it by eating them except the priest. However, both David and the priest allowed him and his people to eat of it. To the pharisees, they know David will be the ancestor of the Messiah, and treated Him honorably. Jesus is saying to obey the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law. 

According to Matthew, Jesus added these sentences: "Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless."

Mark 2:27 also added this sentence: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." 

The last statement for all 3 books are: "The Son of Man is also Lord of Sabbath".  (v5)

This is considered a blaspheme to the pharisee, as He is calling himself the Messiah, and that He is greater than the temple (in extension, greater to the law of the temple), and he has the authority over the laws of God and can interpret them to show priority over love, mercy and human need. 

On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue to teach, and a man whose right hand had withered was there. The pharisees and scribes were looking at Jesus whether He would heal the man. Jesus asked them, " is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?"  When no one answered, Jesus ask the man to stretch out his hands, and when he did so, his hands were restored. They were filled with fury and discussed with each other what they might do to Jesus. (v6-11)   Parallel: Matt 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6)

Observation & Application:  This contrast Jesus perspective against the Pharisees. Jesus puts the people first, whereas the Pharisees put the laws first. They showed no compassion to those who violates those laws even when they are struggling with hunger or unclean diseases such a leprosy.  In the same way, while we have the Bible we should not use it to judge people, but to use it to teach others about Christ, topping up with mercy, love and compassion for others, and meeting their physical needs as well. 

v12-16 : The Twelve Apostles (Mark 3:13-19)

Jesus went to the mountains to pray all day and night. When he came down, he selected his 12 apostles from his disciples. They were:

Simon (Peter): A leader among the apostles, known for his zeal and piety. Crucified upside down during Nero’s persecution (A.D. 64-68)

Andrew: Peter’s brother and one of Christ’s earliest disciples. Crucified on an “X”-shaped cross (St. Andrew’s cross)

James, son of Zebedee: The elder brother of John, both were called early and were prominent. (They were also known as "Sons of Thunder" and were sons of Salome, the sister of Jesus' mother, Mary.  Beheaded by King Herod I (A.D. 44) 

John, son of Zebedee: Often called the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” he had a special relationship with Jesus. Traditionally, he died in Ephesus after being released from exile on Patmos (A.D. 100-105)

Philip: He was the one who evangelized the Samaritans in Acts 8.  Tradition varies; some say he was crucified, others mention natural death

Bartholomew: Little is known about him from the Gospels. He was also called Nathanael in John 1:45. Traditionally, he was flayed alive and beheaded 

Matthew: A tax collector (also known as Levi) who later authored the Gospel of Matthew. Martyred in Ethiopia or Persia

Thomas: Known for his doubt and later affirmation of Jesus’ resurrection. Killed with a spear or lance in India

James (son of Alphaeus): It is thought that this James is the one who wrote the books of James in the Bible. The reason is was not James, son of Zebedee, was that he martyred in 44AD, before the books were written around 49AD. James is a major leader in the Jerusalem church and the human brother of Jesus. Details of his death is unclear. 

Simon (the Zealot): His background as a Zealot suggests strong political convictions. Traditionally, he was crucified or sawn in half

Judas (son of James): Also called Thaddaeus in Mark  3:18. His specific role is not detailed here. His father's name is James, but not the two apostles listed. Traditionally, he was martyred, but specifics vary.

Judas Iscariot: Infamously known as the traitor who betrayed Jesus. He committed suicide either by hanging (Matt 27:3-5), or fell and burst open his bowels (Acts 1:8) or both - i.e. the rope snapped and he fell down. 

A man once asked a theologian, “Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot to be his disciple?” The teacher replied, “I don’t know, but I have an even harder question: Why did Jesus choose me?” (Guzik)

Observation: Here's another case where Jesus spent time praying before choosing His disciples. Let's not make haste decisions when what we decide has very important outcome or result in the future. Always pray to God for guidance.

v17-26:  The Beatitudes (Matt 5:1-12)

Jesus came down from the mountains with his disciples and a great multitude of people from Judea, Tyre, and Sidon. They were there to hear him, to be healed, and to have unclean spirits cured. The crowd sought to touch Him, for power came out from Him and healed them all. (v17-19)

Jesus thought them that they are blessed if they are poor, or hungry, or those who weeps, for the kingdom of God belongs to them, and they will be satisfied and will be joyful. When people hate you and when they exclude and revile you, and falsely accuse you as evil on the account of the Son of Man, rejoice and be joyful, for your rewards are great in heaven. For this was what their fathers did to the prophets. (v20-23)

Jesus was teaching them something new. While the world are greedy for the physical and material things, Jesus is saying that if we focus on the path of God's kingdom and spiritual purity, all these will be rewarded to them in heaven.  

In Matthew 5:3, the "poor" is translated to "poor in spirit" - meaning to be humble and contrite heart, knowing our spiritual poverty and dependency on God. They recognize their need for God's grace, forgiveness and guidance. He explained that instead of being hungry for food, but to thirst for righteousness, so they can be satisfied. 

Matthew's list also includes those who mourn, those who are meek, those who are merciful, those whose hearts are pure, those who are peacemakers, and those who are persecuted. (Mat 5:4-12)

Only Luke recorded Jesus' four woes. Woes to the rich, for you already have your reward. Woe to those who are full now, for you shall be hungry; Woe to those who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep; and woe if people speak well of you, for their fathers spoke well of the false prophets. (v24-26). All these are conditions and motivation of our hearts, which affect our own focus and objectives.

v27-36: Love Your Enemies (Matt 5:38-48)

Jesus thought them to love their enemies, and to do good for those who hate them. We are to bless and pray for those who curse or abuse us. If someone strike us on the cheek, offer the other also; if someone takes away our cloak, then don't refuse them our tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and don't demand back things taken from you. Whatever we wish others to do for us, do so to them. (v27-31)

This is a difficult thing for all of us to do. While we can love our enemies and pray for them, less of us will bless and do good for them. It is even more difficult to turn the other cheek and let them take what we have. 

Incidentally, some theologians believe that "striking on the cheek" may not be literal, but symbolize an insult from the other person. “Jesus is here saying that the true Christian has learned to resent no insult and to seek retaliation for no slight.” (Barclay)  Even if the slap is a physical slap or punch, Jesus is not prohibiting justice from the government. This is our own personal conduct, not to retaliate each time we are unjustfully or justfully offended. 

This reminds me of a movie I saw, "The Cross and the Switchblade", based on the real-life of a pastor named David Wilkerson (1931-2011), whose ministry was to serve the young drug addicts and gang members. The movie was about his conversation of a gang leader, Nicky Cruz.  Nicky once threaten him: "You come near me and I'll kill you!" and David responded: "Yeah, you could do that. You could cut me up into a thousand pieces and lay them in the street, and every piece will still love you."  Nicky Cruz eventually accepted Christ and became an evangelist himself.

Application: It is only possible to do what Jesus ask if we have a love so deep for the person, deeper than the love of ourselves. We will have to reject all our rights, in order to pursue salvation for the other person. Isn't this what Jesus had done for us? "Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phil 2:5-8)

Jesus said, in v32, that if we only love those who love me, it doesn't make our character special, for even sinners love whoever love them. Sinners also do good to others who do good to him, and lend to those who return the same. But if we love our enemies, do good, and lend, and expect nothing in return, our rewards will be great. We will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful even as your Father is merciful. (v32-36)

When Jesus teach us something contrary to our mental belief, it may seem to be strange; however, we we see it from God's point of view, then it makes a lot of sense. His view is an eternal-view, and the reward in not earth-bound. Let's be heaven=bound in the way we think, decide and do our activities. 

v37-42: Judging Others (Matt 7:1-5)

"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you."  (v37-38)

Again, Jesus is not speaking about judging from government responsibility of bringing justice. The judging here is based on people who has a habit of jumping to the conclusion and condemning others who act or think differently from themselves. We always think we are better than them legally or morally. We judge them without understanding their situation nor the circumstances they are in, and we condemn them for all their lives for one incident. Jesus is saying, that if we are in the habit to do this, then God will also do this to us. God is more merciful and graceful to us, for he "shuts an eye" for those who believe in his redemption plan through Jesus. 

Jesus illustrate this with a parable. He said everyone is blind (sinful) - we cannot lead another blind man, as both will fall into a pit. Why should we point out a speck in someone's eye, but didn't notice the log that is in your own eye? He call them "hypocrite - take the log out of your eye, then you can see clearly to take the speck that is in your brothers's eye" (v39-42)

In verse 40, Jesus said that a disciple is not above his teacher, but when he is fully trained, he will be like his teacher. Here, he is indicating that we shouldn't be judging anyone until we are fully trained by the teacher - that is, Jesus himself. Our focus in not on others, but on Jesus and to become like Him. Jesus knows everyone and everything, but He is not quick to judge. An example was when He asked the people to throw a stone at the prostitute, if they have no sin at all. ( None of them did. (John 8:7)

Jesus said we should forgive those who offended us (v37), even if the offense is great. For me, a great offense is the murder of my loved ones. Am I able to forgive someone who did that? According to Jesus, we should, for the only reason you should not forgive a person, is when the cross of Christ cannot forgive him. I can't name anyone. 

We are also encourage to give (v38), as it is "more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)  Giving to others is an evidence that the love of God abides in us: “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)

v43-45: Fruit of the Tree (Matt 7:15-23)

Jesus said that good trees cannot bear bad fruit, and bad trees cannot bear good fruits. A person's fruit tells us about himself. Each tree cannot change the fruits it bears. The good person, out of good treasure in his heart produces good; while the evil person, out of his evil treasures produces evil. Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (v43-45)

This analogy did not imply that an evil man cannot be made into a good man. All of us have had bad fruits before. However, when we realize we are sinful, and believe in Christ, and repents from our sins, then we begin to change. An example includes Paul, who changed from a persecutor to a devoted apostles and evangelist. 

v46-49: Build Your House on the Rock (Matt 7:24-27)

Jesus asked them, "why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I tell you?"  Those who hears and obey Him is like a man who digs deep and build his house on top of a rock. When a flood came, the water could not shake the house, for it was well built. But those who hears and does not do them is like a man who built his house without a foundation. When the flood comes, it would fall, and the ruins of the house was great. (v46-49)

This parable encourages discipleship and obedience to Christ's teachings. It underscores the importance of not only hearing the words of Jesus but actively applying them in one's life. Building a foundation on the rock of obedience ensures resilience and endurance in the face of life's challenges.