Read Luke 6:1-5
Harvesting had begun in Palestine. As Jesus and His disciples walked through a particular field, the disciples began to pick some grain, rub it in their hands to break
God’s law favoured the poor and needy and this law protected them and the traveller from starvation. Farmers were prohibited from harvesting their entire fields. They were required to leave the outer edges of their fields untouched to provide for such needy people.
As Jesus’ disciples ate in the field an objection was raised: ‘Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’ (6:2). The accusation was against harvesting and threshing, against working on the Sabbath, not against eating from another’s field.
Jesus responded by citing a biblical incident from the life of David.
"Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?" (6:3-4).
Jesus does not comment on the rabbinic rituals and oral traditions that had been handed down for centuries. He simply turns to the Scriptures. He refers to an incident described in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. David and his men were on the run from King Saul. They were without food. While on the run, David met with one of the priests and requested food for himself and for his men. There was no available food except for the old bread which had been taken from the Table of Shewbread inside the Tabernacle of the Lord. This was special bread. It had been set apart for a special purpose. It was considered to be holy. It had sat in the Tabernacle before the presence of the Lord. It had been designated as "the bread of the presence." No one was allowed to eat of this bread except for the descendants of Aaron, which David was not! (See Leviticus 24:9).
Yet David and his men were given this bread to eat! They partook of that which only the priests were supposed to eat. Why? Because they had a need and because they were God’s people and because the needs of God’s people transcend religious rituals. Love is greater than ritual.
Jesus then replied with ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath’, vs 5. Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath could do as He wishes. This helps us understand why the church now worships on Sondays - to honour Jesus’ resurrection. The early church (See Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2) seems to have met on the first day of the week which was in line with the resurrection of Jesus. No where in Scripture is this practice forbidden nor questioned. Quite the opposite! It seems to have been an across the board acceptance. But let us also bear in mind Romans 14:5-6 and Colossians 2:16 and let’s make sure that we don’t judge each other and condemn each other about this issue.
Prayer:
Based on today’s reading passage and notes jot down your own prayer points.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
· Pray that each and every person in your church would come to an understanding of the biblical position of Sabbath keeping and that it would cease to cause division in the Christian world.
· Ask the Lord to bless the work of Shiloh Ministries in India as they seek to care for orphans, widows and the needy. Pray that God would provide their needs and resources to continue this gospel work.
1. Given that there are two diametrically opposed schools of thought regarding Sabbath observance either on Saturday or Sonday, how can we approach this issue without resorting to calling each other “heretics” or “hell bound sinners”?
2. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, is the day we choose to rest important? What other factors need to be considered in choosing when to rest?
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