Those That Don’t Get it……

Reading chapter 12 of Matthew, I can’t help but notice how religion plays such a large role in society. You tend to have 4 types of people. The religious and the unreligious. Within the religious, you have those that “get it”, and those who don’t. Among the unreligious you have those that hate religion and those that don’t care about it. Here, we focus on the people that don’t “get it” among the religious. Jesus, being God Himself, wrote the guidelines of “being religious”. He knows exactly what’s required on the Sabbath. Unfortunately, the Pharisees didn’t understand Its true purpose. As Jesus tells us, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. He also goes on to tell us that it’s lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Finally, He tells us that He is Lord of the Sabbath. The problem with “being religious” is when people don’t “get it”. When people practice religion without the proper understanding, it becomes a misguided burden to everyone. “Being religious” is when someone makes their convictions an obligation to someone else. God never planned this. It’s man’s attempt to justify his own sin, by comparing himself to others (making him feel better about the guilt he feels from his sin). This comparison is a deception that Satan pushes on every single soul alive today. It targets our pride. If we serve ourselves, it attacks us by feeding our ego, allowing this pride to swell. It eventually gets to the point where you have no room left for God. It’s only when you see your sinfulness as a opposition to God, and give it up, embracing the grace that God gives freely, that this deception of Satan is clearly seen. God grants us the discernment to syphon out the truth from the lies, and then grants us the power to resist or flee these attacks. True religion isn’t practicing any rituals or holding others to impossible standards. True religion in living in the position Christ gives us through His death and resurrection. Our unearned position in Christ humbles us and makes us grateful to our Creator. It teaches us what pursuing God really is, and what He requires of us: to love mercy, to do justice, to love our neighbor, and to walk humbly with Him. Jesus is the true Hope of the world.

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, Your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?6 I tell you, there is One here who is even greater than the Temple!7 But you would not have condemned My innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” Jesus Heals on the Sabbath 9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where He noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping He would say yes, so they could bring charges against Him.)11 And He answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”13 Then He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus. Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant 15 But Jesus knew what they were planning. So He left that area, and many people followed Him. He healed all the sick among them,16 but He warned them not to reveal who He was. 17 This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Him: 18 “Look at My Servant, whom I have chosen.He is My Beloved, who pleases Me.I will put My Spirit upon Him,and He will proclaim justice to the nations.19 He will not fight or shoutor raise His voice in public.20 He will not crush the weakest reedor put out a flickering candle.Finally He will cause justice to be victorious.21 And His name will be the hope of all the world.” Matthew 12:1-21a