3 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
Genesis 36:1-37:11
Matthew 12:1-21
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Matthew 12:7 (CSB): “If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
In Matthew 12:1-14, Jesus confronted some Pharisees who had a problem with Jesus’ disciples eating grain as they walked through the fields on the Sabbath (a day of rest). They also had a problem with Jesus healing a man with a deformed hand on the Sabbath.
Those Pharisees were furious. All they could see was that Jesus was violating the 4th Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) to honor the Sabbath and to keep it holy by not doing any work.
As Jesus explained the flaw in their thinking, His reasoning is very insightful.
Matthew 12:3-4 – Jesus spoke of how King David and his men were starving. To satisfy their hunger, they ate the consecrated bread. It’s as if David could hear God saying: “I don’t want people eating the consecrated bread because I never want it to be treated as common. But of course, I will make an exception if people are starving.” So, God’s law can be suspended if people are in dire need.
Matthew 12:5 – Jesus spoke of how the priests work on the Sabbath in the Temple. Even God works on the Sabbath, the day that we are commanded to rest. So, exceptions are made to God’s law by people who, of necessity, must do what is prohibited.
Matthew 12:6-8 – Jesus, as God in the flesh, claimed that He had the right to determine when exceptions could be made to God’s laws. As He claimed this right to Himself, He reiterated that when someone is hurting or about to be hurt, there are certain instances where the law can be temporarily suspended. God desires mercy over sacrifice.
For the legalist, these exceptions are abhorrent. Legalists elevate the law above people and thus miss God’s heart. They fail to realize that God did not make people in order to obey the law; He made the law in order to bless people. He desires mercy to bless people much more than religious activity and compliance with a rule.
So, how should we respond to this truth? Here are a few things that come to mind:
- Obey God’s Word, but realize that God’s laws are intended to be a blessing to you and others.
- Be gracious to others. Don’t be a legalist, quick to condemn. Be merciful.
- Realize that there are a few times in which exceptions are made concerning God’s law. In those rare instances, “disobedience” is not sin. God desires mercy (that people are blessed) more than sacrifice (obeying a rule).
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, I know that You couldn’t stand the Pharisees and their legalistic attitudes. But I have to admit that I have legalistic tendencies from time to time. Help me to hear what You say in Matthew 12 and be ready to give grace and live in that grace. I pray this in Your Name, Jesus, Amen.
Going Deeper
If you want to go deeper, check out this article by Got Questions: “Was it wrong for David to eat the showbread in 1 Samuel 21:1–6?”
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com).
Matt’s Musings 