Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”
But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.--Luke 6:1-11
Beloved Believer...
Jesus gets to the heart of the issue in this verse.
Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”
What is the heart of the issue. The heart is that it is NEVER okay to put laws, traditions and regulations ahead of human need. The law of love is the key here. Romans 13:8 says this:
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
If we are owing no one God has placed in our lives anything but love, then we are fulfilling the law. Romans 13 continues:
For the commandments, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER," "YOU SHALL NOT STEAL," "YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS," "YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Did you get that last part? Love does no harm to a neighbor...if you are loving the people in your life with the love that God has shed abroad in your heart then you will always be fulfilling the law. Love is the perfect bond of perfection. Love is an adhesive! It is the bond of unity. Love encompasses all of God's commands concerning human relationships. If we truly love our neighbor...and our neighbor is the person whom God has placed in our line of sight at the moment...we will consider his needs as we consider our own. We will care for him as we care for ourselves and we will only do what is in his best interests. Do you see the enormity of what God requires...none of us can fulfill the law...we can't even come close to loving others this way unless the Spirit of God does the work.
Examine your own life through this lens...remember love in each and every situation and circumstance. Truly, love never fails.
Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”
What is the heart of the issue. The heart is that it is NEVER okay to put laws, traditions and regulations ahead of human need. The law of love is the key here. Romans 13:8 says this:
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
If we are owing no one God has placed in our lives anything but love, then we are fulfilling the law. Romans 13 continues:
For the commandments, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER," "YOU SHALL NOT STEAL," "YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS," "YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Did you get that last part? Love does no harm to a neighbor...if you are loving the people in your life with the love that God has shed abroad in your heart then you will always be fulfilling the law. Love is the perfect bond of perfection. Love is an adhesive! It is the bond of unity. Love encompasses all of God's commands concerning human relationships. If we truly love our neighbor...and our neighbor is the person whom God has placed in our line of sight at the moment...we will consider his needs as we consider our own. We will care for him as we care for ourselves and we will only do what is in his best interests. Do you see the enormity of what God requires...none of us can fulfill the law...we can't even come close to loving others this way unless the Spirit of God does the work.
Examine your own life through this lens...remember love in each and every situation and circumstance. Truly, love never fails.
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