Lift High the Name of Jesus

 Jesus never broke the Law,  but He did violate the traditions of men.  A personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is far more important than keeping religious rules and rituals. SCANDAL ON THE SABBATH

 “When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container.  When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.” Deut. 23:24-25

 Were the disciples doing an unlawful activity?  What did the Law prohibit on the Sabbath?  The word “work” refers to “their business”.  Israel’s people were forbidden from doing their normal labor that brought them profit.  The disciples were not working; they were simply meeting the pressing need of hunger. unlawful

 The traditions and teaching of men had been placed on the same level with God’s written Word.  The disciples had not violated God’s Law;  they had violated the traditions of men and the Pharisees were in a rage. Here’s the problem:

 The Pharisees had taken a day that had been given to man as a blessing  and, by their foolish rules and regulations, had turned that day into a burden.  What did Jesus do?  He pointed them back to the Word of God.  Jesus’ point: David and his men needed food. The Sabbath

 rest, cessation, inactivity  God, in His grace, gave man one day out of seven in which he did not have to work for a living.  The Jews had perverted the day with so many regulations that it was no longer a day of rest, reflection and refreshment.  It had become a day of endless rules, regulations and burdens. The Sabbath

 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Col. 2:16-17

 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.  Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Rom. 14:14,15

 Rules and rituals cannot save the soul, Jesus can!  Remember that the doctrines and traditions of men do not have the same authority in our lives as the Word of God.  The Bible is God’s final authority! Lord of the Sabbath