Jesus and the Old Testament (David & Sabbath)

In Matthew 12, Jesus is in the middle of announcing the kingdom of God and his role in it while also engaging in tension-filled debates with religious leaders. Our text today falls in the middle of this tension. Jesus’ disciples were caught picking grain in a field on the Sabbath, something forbidden by law. How was Jesus going to get out of this one? How would he use the Old Testament to prove his argument? Let’s dive in. 

The disciples were picking grain in a field on the Sabbath. That’s the fact. The Pharisees come after Jesus and ask why his disciples were breaking the law. Here’s where the fact line starts to appear fuzzy. The law states that “picking up sticks” on the sabbath is wrong (Numbers 15:32). Over time, the religious leaders became more legalistic in their approach to the Sabbath and picking grain was forbidden as well. Not according to the Torah but by their standards to avoid violating the Sabbath. Good intention, not so good instruction. The disciples were hungry, and should they be punished for eating and trying to survive? This is where Jesus goes first. 

Jesus responds in two parts. He first references 1 Samuel 21:1-6 where Ahimelek allows David and his men to eat the sacred showbread in the tabernacle. David and his men were hungry and so were Jesus’ disciples. Jesus makes a strong point that if David was allowed, so his disciples should be because Jesus is even greater than David and since they are following Jesus, the disciples are just as allowed to eat. 

The second part of Jesus’ response comes from Numbers 28:9-10 where the priests have to violate the Sabbath to take care of the tabernacle. This might not sound like a good argument by Jesus since the disciples were not priests, however in light of what Jesus says next, it certainly holds authority. 

Jesus says “one greater than the temple is here” (Matthew 12:6). He is claiming he is greater than the temple and all it represents. He then quotes from Hosea 6:6 which quotes God saying “I desire mercy not sacrifice”. Jesus here wants the Pharisees to learn that God would rather us love others and show mercy than follow a legalistic agenda at the cost of human love. In verse 8, Jesus gives the final blow. “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”. You see, the Sabbath is all about resting and thanking God for his provisions. Jesus is offering everyone true rest and freedom from the burdens that have been placed on days like the Sabbath.  

Jesus uses 3 combined Old Testament passages to prove that God wants us to treat people with love and kindness more than following rules and rituals of religion. Jesus is offering a true rest that the Pharisees can’t see because of their legalistic mindset. As followers of Jesus may we hold to his teaching that he is our true rest and may our minds be filled with love and mercy to the poor and weak as we let go of legalistic religion and open our minds and hearts to following the way of God.