February 15 – Luke 6:1-11
Main Focus: Sabbath
In this first Sabbath controversy, Jesus announces that he is lord of the Sabbath. On a Sabbath day his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain. The law permitted plucking grain from another person’s field, but no instrument like a sickle could be used. Rubbing them removed the outer chaff. Culturally, at that time, the Pharisees considered plucking grain on the Sabbath as work and therefore forbidden. You include Jesus in his disciples’ activity, because a teacher was responsible for his disciples’ actions.
As a way of response, Jesus says have you not read (OT) what David. The point Jesus makes is that David did something not lawful (cf. Lev 24:5-9) by eating the bread of the Presence (i.e., the consecrated sanctuary bread). Jesus points out that both David and his followers did this unlawful act because of David’s authority. How much more, therefore, can David’s Lord and his followers do something that meets a human need even though it violated the Pharisees’ interpretation of the law. Jesus’ argument, essentially, is that the Son of Man—not the Pharisees through their regulations—ultimately rules over and interprets the Sabbath.
A second Sabbath controversy happens in vv.6-11. A man with a withered (Paralyzed or atrophied) hand is in the crowd and the Pharisees watch to see if Jesus would attempt to heal this man or not. They were not watching to gain insight but to accuse him. They would have conceded that life-threatening situations allowed for breaking the Sabbath, but this was not such a situation. In this incident Jesus responds to them with a question. He asks, “is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm? Jesus had acted out of compassion to heal the man with the withered hand. His opponents, however, finding themselves in a dilemma, refuse to answer.
Jesus tells the man to stretch out his hand. Jesus pointedly did not do anything in this situation that could be called “work”: he did not even touch the man, but simply spoke a word (and surely speaking is not prohibited on the Sabbath!). Nor did the disabled man do any forbidden “work,” for he simply stretched out his hand. Jesus’ accusers were silenced, and they were furious. His hand was restored. This is proof that Jesus is lord of the Sabbath. As a way of response, the Pharisees were filled with fury. Even a mighty miracle cannot change their hardened hearts. What they might do to Jesus serves as the conclusion of vv.1-10 and foreshadows his suffering and death.
Discussion questions
Read Luke 6:1-11
– What surprised you the most about this story (Jesus’ words, the reactions, etc), and why? What questions do you have from this story? Why do you think this text is included in the Bible? What would we be missing without it?
– Jesus’ declaration that “the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath” (v. 5) alludes to his humanity and divine authority. He points them to the true significance of the Sabbath, which they had strayed from by adding man-made rules to God’ s decrees. One aspect of practicing the Sabbath is resisting- saying “no” to more in order to say “yes” to rest in Christ. What is something you have difficulty saying “no” to that might rob you of true Sabbath?
– In the Pharisees’ radical effort to keep the Sabbath, they ironically missed its point. They believed faithfulness to God was only about strict adherence to man-made rules. Is there or has there been a spiritual practice in your life that began as a life-giving gift from God but eventually turned into a life-taking set of rules?
– Sabbath is about a life of constant rest in God, which allows you to be aware of and enjoy the gifts he constantly gives. The concept of Sabbath is very antithetical to our culture, which prides itself on accomplishment. Like our culture, many of us are tempted to find our identity in our productivity. Is this a matter of identity for you? What incremental changes can/do you make to repent of the idol of productivity to enjoy constant rest in Christ?
– In verses 6-11, Luke shares a story of Jesus healing a man with a withered hand. In verse 10, he commands the man to “stretch out your hand.” This seemed like an impossible task to this man, but God gave him the ability to do it. Often in our lives, God calls us to do something that seems impossible but gives us the ability to do it. Is there anything in your life that feels too impossible? How can you trust God that he will give you the ability to do it?