WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.100 We're going to have our Bible reading now, and we're going to be reading from Matthew 00:00:07.100 --> 00:00:10.660 chapter 12, starting from verse 1 and going to verse 14. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 He said to them, 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:12.980 And he went on from there and entered their synagogue. 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:15.599 And a man was there with a withered hand. 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:16.960 And they asked him, 00:01:17.460 --> 00:01:21.400 Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him? 00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:22.879 He said to them, 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:52.879 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:56.719 If you want to open your Bibles or keep your Bibles open to Matthew chapter 12, 00:01:57.539 --> 00:02:01.640 how about I pray before we listen to God's word? 00:02:01.640 --> 00:02:01.700 Amen. 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:12.879 Yeah, Father, as Simon introduced this morning, we really need your rest. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:14.479 We always do. 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:20.860 But we're probably feeling it, especially at the moment, given our circumstances. 00:02:20.860 --> 00:02:29.920 I just pray that you would take your powerful word and breathe it into each of our souls, 00:02:30.200 --> 00:02:37.700 that we might hear you speaking and experience that rest that is ours in Christ, 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:38.980 if we have come to know him. 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:41.060 So please go before us now. 00:02:41.900 --> 00:02:43.020 Fill us all with your spirit. 00:02:43.580 --> 00:02:44.280 In Jesus' name. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:44.740 Amen. 00:02:44.740 --> 00:02:47.439 Oh, yeah. 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:49.480 Man, here we go again, hey? 00:02:50.600 --> 00:02:55.659 That five-letter C word that we're all sick of hearing, so I won't say it. 00:02:56.140 --> 00:02:58.780 But it's just threatening our loved ones again. 00:02:58.980 --> 00:03:01.920 And it's wreaking havoc on our Christmas plans. 00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:04.219 Our expectations are up this year, weren't they? 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:08.760 We just want to sit around the table and have too much food. 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:15.959 And like I said in another sermon, loosen our belt and recline together and just be with each other 00:03:15.959 --> 00:03:17.959 and enjoy each other's company at peace. 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:31.899 I think we might be tempted to think that that C word is to blame for our plans maybe not happening this year. 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:36.359 But do you remember previous years before that C word? 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:40.960 Do you remember that we often talk as if as long as we can get our family in the same room together, 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:44.820 then we'll have that peace, that joy together. 00:03:45.200 --> 00:03:46.160 Did that work? 00:03:47.160 --> 00:03:52.520 Is that all you need to get people in the same room at the same time? 00:03:55.460 --> 00:03:56.800 I think we need more than that. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:03.320 We need more than being in the same room, having lots of food, having the Christmas tree up, 00:04:03.460 --> 00:04:06.580 having lots of alcohol for some. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.800 Does that give us peace and joy? 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:13.140 We need a lot more, don't we? 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:15.960 We need each individual who's there to want to be there. 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:22.180 We need that attitude of wanting to be present with the family, not distracted by something else. 00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:27.240 We need the conversation to not bring up controversial topics that divide people. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:33.459 We need the conversation to avoid those relational hurts that bring up tension. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:40.480 Whatever relational tension existed in the year, we can't totally leave it at the door at Christmas, can we? 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:48.060 At least people were walking on eggshells with each other if there's not peace before that day. 00:04:48.060 --> 00:05:00.720 I'm saying all this because I think it's just another example of how we often look to the external trappings of things 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:05.319 to then work their way inside to give us what we crave. 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:11.079 So we try and set up the outside to then get on the inside and give us the peace and joy, 00:05:11.259 --> 00:05:13.500 as if the external can do that. 00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:16.279 We do it all the time and it's not just Christmas. 00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:23.139 We try and make ourselves beautiful on the outside to convince ourselves that we're lovely and desirable. 00:05:25.159 --> 00:05:32.000 We need others' respect so that we validate our sense of importance. 00:05:33.119 --> 00:05:40.779 We pursue titles and awards and achievements to convince ourselves on the inside that we're important. 00:05:40.779 --> 00:05:48.579 We keep striving for that perfect house and car and lifestyle, thinking that's going to give us the perfect family. 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:52.619 All the while relationships can crumble. 00:05:53.959 --> 00:06:00.219 We try and muster arguments and get rally support to convince ourselves that we're guiltless. 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:10.320 If you're like me, we keep putting our trust in the external things to give us the internal and it doesn't work. 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:14.060 Again and again it doesn't work and yet we keep going back to it. 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:19.800 I think that kind of thinking will help us unlock what's going on in this passage. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:26.020 The Pharisees are confident in themselves that if they keep the external trappings of God's law, 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:31.840 that will get them on the inside to be righteous, to be at peace with God, to have joy. 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:36.480 The problem is focusing on the external, they miss the substance. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:46.920 I think we're craving rest at the moment and God's chosen this word for today. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:50.480 I'm not going to sugarcoat it. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:53.860 I think there's some tricky things to understand in this passage. 00:06:54.080 --> 00:06:56.700 So put your thinking caps on. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:00.920 Let's go 25 minutes of concentration here. 00:07:01.080 --> 00:07:04.040 But let's trust that God's given us this word to give us rest. 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:13.280 I don't think it's a coincidence that this passage about the Sabbath rest comes immediately after Jesus' warm invitation, 00:07:13.520 --> 00:07:18.460 come to me all who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest for your souls. 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:23.120 So let's get into it. 00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:30.720 Let's think about that section just before chapter 12 so that we understand chapter 12 properly, 00:07:30.900 --> 00:07:31.980 what we've heard last week. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:35.140 So if you've got your Bibles, keep them open. 00:07:35.259 --> 00:07:38.500 Chapter 11, verses 25 to 30. 00:07:40.420 --> 00:07:44.180 What is the rest that Jesus offers and who can have it? 00:07:48.180 --> 00:07:54.500 It can't be talking about just rest from everyday work and effort. 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:57.860 It's not about that. 00:07:58.060 --> 00:08:01.519 That's the kind of promise of rest that the lottery promises. 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:03.899 If you win the lottery, just retire early. 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:05.620 Go caravaning. 00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:15.319 I listened to this TED talk that this social researcher did a long-term study. 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:17.480 I don't know what the technical term for that is. 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:24.959 They actually tracked people who won the lottery and they tracked people who had something, a misfortune happened to them. 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:27.000 Maybe they were in a car accident and they got injured. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:33.759 So they tracked these sets of people and asked them about their perception of their happiness. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:38.460 And as you'd expect, those who won the lottery felt really happy at first. 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:40.440 Those who had misfortune, really sad. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:45.299 But after two years, they were both at the same level of perceived happiness. 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:48.079 I don't know what you want to do with that. 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:52.139 I think it just tells you that it doesn't work. 00:08:52.599 --> 00:08:59.159 The outside doesn't ultimately change our perception of rest and happiness. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:05.359 So what is the rest that Jesus offers here if it's not outside stuff? 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:09.219 I think verse 25 helps us. 00:09:09.220 --> 00:09:19.420 Jesus, thanks the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children. 00:09:19.540 --> 00:09:22.560 Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:27.660 So we can't have this rest by our own wisdom and understanding. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.860 It has to be revealed to us. 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:31.100 It has to be given to us. 00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:42.860 So if you think you've got your life together, if you think you're pretty good, you understand the world, you've got things fairly sorted, Jesus is not offering you rest. 00:09:47.040 --> 00:09:50.159 The paragraph before applies to you mainly. 00:09:51.180 --> 00:09:51.899 Woe to you. 00:09:52.060 --> 00:09:52.899 Judgment is coming. 00:09:56.680 --> 00:09:58.240 So what is this rest? 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:03.299 I think it's in verse 27. 00:10:05.779 --> 00:10:18.039 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:24.480 To know the Father, to know the Son of God, to be loved by God, that is rest. 00:10:25.500 --> 00:10:26.980 That is at the heart of rest. 00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:28.480 So who can have it? 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:36.399 Not people who think they've got their life in order, but people who feel the weight of their sin and failure. 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:40.039 I think that's, come to me all who labour and are heavy laden. 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:47.379 I think that's describing people who know the Word of God and say, you should be like God in His character. 00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:51.920 The Bible says this, we should be like God in His character and in our obedience. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:57.719 And yet you know that so often my love for God and my choices are over here. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:02.339 That is a heavy burden if you're in that place, if you know the gap. 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:03.759 That's a heavy burden. 00:11:04.479 --> 00:11:06.759 To you, Jesus says, come. 00:11:07.979 --> 00:11:09.199 I'll lift that burden. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.839 You think you've got your life in order? 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:13.860 No rest. 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:18.379 If you are weighed down by your sin, come. 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:23.080 And I'll give you the Father. 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:33.420 So having that refresher in mind, let's get into chapter 12. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.420 If we stay zoomed out in the story, so what happens here? 00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:46.439 It's fairly, I don't know, trivial things that happen in a sense. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:55.159 So it's on the Sabbath day when God said not to do any work and Jesus and His companions are walking through a field 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:58.379 and they're plucking heads of grain and they're eating it because they're hungry. 00:11:59.819 --> 00:12:06.819 And then Jesus goes into a synagogue and a man with a withered hand, he heals him. 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:14.540 And verse 14, because of that, the Pharisees want to kill him. 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:18.120 Does that add up to you? 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:19.620 That doesn't add up to me. 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:25.760 If this passage was about some argument about a technicality of God's law, 00:12:26.300 --> 00:12:29.520 there should be a heated debate, not a plot to murder. 00:12:30.780 --> 00:12:32.580 Something deeper is going on here. 00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:41.639 I think what's going on is two worlds are clashing, are clashing, clashing, colliding. 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:48.740 The Pharisees' outside-in world of trying to have peace and the good life 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:54.060 is clashing with Jesus' inside-out rest that he's offering. 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:57.960 He is confronting it head-on and they hate it. 00:12:57.960 --> 00:13:02.600 And to keep their outside-in, they want to kill what they see. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:13.759 I don't think we should easily dismiss the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy. 00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:15.980 After all, this is God's command. 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:24.759 The weekly rhythm of stopping work to spend one day differently in community worshipping God 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:29.240 was a reminder of profound truth for Jewish people. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.680 Let me just list off four things. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:36.100 The Sabbath was super, super important. 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:39.420 It reminded of Genesis 1 and 2. 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:43.759 This is God's world that you're living in, that he rested from work. 00:13:44.079 --> 00:13:45.059 He is the creator. 00:13:45.199 --> 00:13:46.979 He is the sustainer of your life. 00:13:48.599 --> 00:13:50.379 It's a wonderful reminder of that. 00:13:50.699 --> 00:13:54.039 It's a reminder of the fourth in the Ten Commandments. 00:13:55.079 --> 00:13:57.219 You are one of God's holy people. 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:01.459 It's a reminder that you belong to a holy God. 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:03.139 You are in relationship with God. 00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:12.860 It's a reminder of the promised land of rest, of milk and honey, the Messianic age where sin 00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:14.879 and everything is dealt with. 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:20.100 It was the promise of a future rest for Jews when the Messiah would come. 00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:28.340 And it was a reminder of how we were to live ethically, that this Sabbath rest didn't just 00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:34.040 apply to Jews, but any foreigners who were in the land, any slaves, any animals were to 00:14:34.040 --> 00:14:35.000 have rest as well. 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:41.040 So it was actually a reminder to treat people with the dignity that God calls us to. 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:44.560 There is a lot bound up in the Sabbath. 00:14:44.920 --> 00:14:48.840 So I think some Christians can quickly dismiss Sabbath. 00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:50.320 Let's not do that. 00:14:50.420 --> 00:14:52.220 Jesus is not abolishing the law. 00:14:53.040 --> 00:14:56.639 He's not abolishing the law, we heard in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:59.679 But he is coming to fulfill it. 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:11.439 Okay, so the rabbis at the time, reaping grain, they all agreed that's harvesting, that's work, 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:13.580 that's breaking the Sabbath. 00:15:15.319 --> 00:15:19.120 Some think the justification it was that the disciples were hungry. 00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:23.960 That's not fully satisfying for me. 00:15:25.319 --> 00:15:26.539 Excuse the pun there. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:33.659 But me saying I'm hungry at five o'clock after, I don't know, four hours from having 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:38.340 lunch is very different from someone on the street who can barely maintain consciousness 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.840 because they haven't eaten in days. 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.319 There is a profound difference there. 00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:42.759 These guys could have waited. 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:46.819 If anyone's ever done the 40-hour famine, they could have waited to the next morning. 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:51.000 I don't think them being hungry is the justification here. 00:15:51.780 --> 00:15:53.840 It's not what Jesus argues anyway. 00:15:53.840 --> 00:16:06.720 The Pharisees accuse, you are breaking the law of God, or your disciples are, and Jesus doesn't 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:07.280 debate them. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.879 He doesn't answer at that level. 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:15.860 I think there's a reason why we find this, if you're like me anyway, why when we first read 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:17.420 this paragraph, it's a bit confusing. 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:19.039 It's like, what's going on here? 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:23.779 Something about David, something about the temple, something about the priest profaning 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:26.659 the temple, his law to the Sabbath, mercy sacrament. 00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:28.360 What's he saying? 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:31.799 He's not engaging on a technicality of law. 00:16:31.959 --> 00:16:36.500 He's going, your framing of the question is totally wrong. 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:38.679 Totally wrong. 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:43.500 So we've got to get into the detail to see how it's wrong. 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:48.259 I don't know if this illustration is going to work or not, but here goes. 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:51.519 That's always a good preamble. 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.100 It should be good. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:58.799 If you're invited to Buckingham Palace, we got this wedding invitation last year, and 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:05.799 looking at the calligraphy, and it had this stamp on the back, like maybe we were being 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:07.960 invited to Buckingham Palace, but we weren't. 00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:14.919 Anyway, imagine you were invited to Buckingham Palace, and you come in, you know you're in 00:17:14.919 --> 00:17:15.659 a special place. 00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:22.279 You're going to have a special meal with a special person, and the servants of the Queen 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:24.759 tell you the protocol like you needed it. 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:29.720 You knew you'd be on your best behaviour, but they tell you the protocol before you go 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:29.919 in. 00:17:29.919 --> 00:17:34.119 Now imagine you just sit down and start stuffing your face. 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:40.779 And people just turn to you in anger and go, that is not right, what you are doing. 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:47.339 And you just respond, well haven't you read in the papers that Prince Charles eats whenever 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.240 he feels like it? 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:53.019 That would not solve the problem. 00:17:53.139 --> 00:17:55.099 That would escalate the situation. 00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:58.359 I see Carol nodding. 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:03.779 I'm not sure if the Buckingham Palace lands with everyone. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:08.099 Do you see what Jesus is saying? 00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:12.319 Do you remember the story of David eating the priest's bread? 00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:15.779 He says that to the Pharisee? 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:17.619 How does that answer the question? 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:22.599 Or do you remember the story? 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:28.839 I've got the passage there if you want to look it up later, but let me just retell the 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:30.379 story, hopefully briefly. 00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:36.219 This is the first account of David being on the run from King Saul. 00:18:36.459 --> 00:18:39.539 He's convinced now that King Saul wants him dead. 00:18:40.459 --> 00:18:41.259 And so he's on the run. 00:18:41.379 --> 00:18:42.799 This is the first story that happens. 00:18:42.919 --> 00:18:47.039 And he comes to a place called Nob, and he's hungry. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.740 He's on the run. 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:50.099 He's fleeing for his life. 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:56.899 And at Nob, it's described as the city of priests. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:19:01.559 So this is probably where the tabernacle, before the temple is, this is where the tabernacle, 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:03.319 the house of God was. 00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:08.099 And so he comes to the priest there, probably the high priest, Ahimelech. 00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:10.159 And he says, have you got any bread? 00:19:11.719 --> 00:19:14.740 Now, the only bread he had was in the tabernacle. 00:19:16.159 --> 00:19:22.859 Now, Ahimelech knew his Bible that only the priests may eat that bread. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.839 Only the priests. 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.199 Only if they're clean. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:31.099 And he asked David, are you and your men ritually clean? 00:19:31.959 --> 00:19:33.959 So he's not being careless with God's law. 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:35.679 He's not dismissing God's law. 00:19:35.919 --> 00:19:37.339 He's going, are you clean? 00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:39.279 I'm not giving you this bread unless you're clean. 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.819 And David goes, yes, I'm clean. 00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:45.819 He also lies, by the way, about, like, oh, no, I'm not on the run from Saul. 00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.899 I don't know what to do with the lie. 00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.699 I'll let you think about that one. 00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:52.959 But, okay, you're clean. 00:19:53.439 --> 00:19:54.139 I know the law. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.019 It's only for priests. 00:19:55.699 --> 00:19:56.819 But he gives him the bread. 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.639 Now, it's not compassion. 00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:06.599 If the priests were compassionate for someone who was, anyone who was hungry, 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.859 they would bake their own bread. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:12.740 They wouldn't give, they would never give the tabernacle bread to someone who was hungry. 00:20:13.179 --> 00:20:15.000 Why did he give the bread to David? 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:19.399 The Pharisees cannot answer that question. 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:25.159 Their view of outside-in religion, they've got no answer. 00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:27.699 Have you got an answer? 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:32.319 Why did the priests give David the bread? 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:38.980 I wasn't planning this, but anyway, I want to call out an answer. 00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.080 Why? 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:46.519 Sorry, Zoom people, I'm not going to hear you, but feel free to yell at the screen if you want. 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:49.980 Ian, yeah. 00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.199 He'd been anointed? 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:55.599 Yep. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.279 Yeah. 00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:00.399 I'm with you on that one. 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:06.920 He would know that Samuel has already, the prophet Samuel has already anointed David. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:09.859 That David is God's chosen king. 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:12.980 Yes, Saul is king at the moment, but he knew he was anointed. 00:21:13.399 --> 00:21:15.220 There's only, I think, I think that's the answer. 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:18.859 There's only one reason the priest gave David the bread. 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:28.199 And even then, the fact that he was anointed still doesn't fully answer the question, but there's one reason, because it's David. 00:21:32.879 --> 00:21:38.939 And here's Jesus saying, it's okay what they're doing. 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:42.359 Don't you know what David did? 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:48.699 He's not making an argument of precedence. 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:50.439 David did it, so anyone can do it. 00:21:50.479 --> 00:21:51.299 He's not saying that. 00:21:51.479 --> 00:21:54.419 He's making an argument of preeminence. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:22:00.500 I am at least as great as David, is the implication. 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:05.439 They're not doing anything wrong because they're with me. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:10.519 Two worlds are colliding here. 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:15.960 Pharisees thinking they have peace with God because they are careful to keep God's laws. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:18.639 Jesus saying that you have peace of God if you're with me. 00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:24.119 How do you and I have peace with God? 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.599 Be a companion of Jesus. 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:34.759 Have him say of you before the Father, before anyone who accuses you, it's okay. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.000 She's with me. 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:45.400 It's a big claim. 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:49.240 It's a warm claim, I find. 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:56.519 So as you look at verses 5 and 6, which, yeah, they're a bit difficult. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.819 I'm not sure. 00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:59.440 I'll have a crack at it. 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:02.799 I think what Jesus is doing is similar to the David story. 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:08.559 He's at the same time confronting the Pharisees outside in religion and at the same time making 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:10.200 a big claim about himself. 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:16.579 He points out that even the priests, in a sense, break the Sabbath. 00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:23.399 On the Sabbath day, the priests had to go into the temple to offer the sacrifices and to change 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:26.079 that bread we've been talking about, the consecrated bread. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:36.639 So in a technical sense, even God's law says the priests break the Sabbath because servicing God's house, 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:41.659 I suppose, trumps it, is a weightier matter of law. 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:44.639 Does that make sense? 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:51.500 So even a weightier matter of God's law trumps a lesser matter of God's law. 00:23:54.700 --> 00:24:00.380 But what does that got to do with disciples walking through a grain field? 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:02.340 Like they're not serving in the temple. 00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:06.420 They're not worshipping God in the temple. 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:12.860 I think it only makes sense if what Jesus says in verse 6 is true. 00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:18.680 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:22.700 So what is that something greater than the temple? 00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:29.019 Some think because the disciples were serving on Jesus' mission, 00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:34.019 that that was kind of like parallel to the priests serving in the temple. 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:40.019 Don Carson points out that, well, one, that's a bit of a stretch 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:45.240 because how are they really serving Jesus' mission while they're walking through a grain field? 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:48.339 We're not told what they're doing that day. 00:24:49.139 --> 00:24:51.119 But it's also not what Jesus compares. 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:54.220 He says something greater than the temple itself is here. 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:58.220 Not temple service, but something greater than the temple. 00:24:58.220 --> 00:25:06.200 Well, this is one of the reasons why the Jews wanted to kill him, a claim like this. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:16.100 Others think what's greater is the command of love that's greater than the other religious rules. 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:18.640 So I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:23.900 And the fact that the next story is about healing a man with a withered hand. 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:31.259 Again, Carson points out that that doesn't quite satisfy that last little phrase in verse 6. 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:37.680 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here, implying it wasn't here before. 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:39.100 It is here now. 00:25:40.280 --> 00:25:44.180 The command of God to love has been the greatest of commands. 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:46.140 God's always said that. 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.900 That's not new. 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:52.460 So what is here? 00:25:56.140 --> 00:26:01.120 What's greater than the visible representation of God living with his people? 00:26:01.540 --> 00:26:02.460 Just think about the temple. 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:05.120 It represents God being with his people. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:10.560 The priests mediating between people and God so that they could relate together. 00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:13.500 The place where God tied his name to. 00:26:13.620 --> 00:26:16.340 So if you thought of the character of God, you think of the temple. 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:18.299 You think of the temple, you think of the character of God. 00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:21.240 This is the place where sin is atoned for. 00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:24.419 People can live at peace and receive blessing from God. 00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:26.159 What is greater than that? 00:26:29.919 --> 00:26:31.799 What's greater than the house of God? 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:41.099 It's got to be God, doesn't it? 00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.740 Only God is greater. 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:44.980 Only his promise of eternal rest. 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:48.039 The king's arrival. 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:49.480 The messianic age. 00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:52.919 Only that is greater than the picture. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:55.240 The reality is greater than the picture. 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:59.759 And Jesus is saying, it's here. 00:27:00.179 --> 00:27:01.059 He is here. 00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.740 Standing right in front of you. 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.859 Talking to you. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.779 Face to face. 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.539 And they're missing it. 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:12.759 Why are they missing it? 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:15.879 Jesus says, because they don't understand Hosea 6.6. 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:18.879 I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.599 That same word, mercy. 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:24.759 I desire steadfast love, not sacrifice. 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:32.200 So in Hosea's day, there was plenty of religion going on, but they were worshipping other gods. 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:34.700 Their heart for God wasn't there. 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:36.220 Religion was there. 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:37.120 Goodness was there. 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.299 External was there. 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:41.080 Internal love for God wasn't there. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:46.860 And Jesus is saying, that's the same for you, you Pharisees. 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:57.619 The one man who had complete, steadfast love for the Father was right in front of them. 00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:59.839 And they missed it. 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:03.259 Because they couldn't see it. 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:05.159 They kept focusing on the external. 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.819 They hated it, even. 00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:15.859 I think they hated it because, or hated him, because it threatened their sense of peace. 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:20.099 If the external gave them peace, he's popping their bubble. 00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:25.399 He's threatening what they think gives them peace, their goodness. 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:33.799 It exposed their hypocrisy, claiming to love God but not really, rejecting his son. 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:38.019 It exposed that they claimed to be wise. 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.479 They were not wise. 00:28:39.719 --> 00:28:41.319 They had no love for God in their hearts. 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:50.200 And I think all that is captured in the next story of him entering their synagogue with a man with a withered hand. 00:28:50.899 --> 00:28:51.819 What do they care about? 00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:54.419 They just care about those external regulations. 00:28:54.679 --> 00:28:58.639 They have no love for God, which overflowed into love for this man. 00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:00.000 They had no mercy for him. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:10.140 So Leviticus 21 says that any priest with a deformed limb was not allowed into the temple. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:16.339 You can't be not whole and be in God's presence. 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:24.660 Now that may sound harsh, but it was a picture of what God was going to do. 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:28.440 He was going to make everything whole one day. 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:33.400 So this man was excluded from God's house. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:39.019 He would feel the burden of being cut off from God because of his sin, under God's curse. 00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:40.040 No peace. 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.660 Cut off from community. 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:47.400 And Jesus calls out their hypocrisy. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:50.700 They would have had more compassion on an animal than for this man. 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:58.519 Their outside-in religion just turned things upside down. 00:29:58.600 --> 00:30:01.640 They were blind to what God wanted them to do. 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:07.240 And then he tells the man to stretch out his hand and it's fully made whole. 00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:13.759 Which just confirms that all that Jesus has been saying is God's will. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:19.040 I like how DC put it. 00:30:19.520 --> 00:30:22.820 I'll let you decide whether DC is Don Carson or David Corderwood. 00:30:25.820 --> 00:30:27.140 I like how he put it. 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:31.020 This man couldn't go to the temple, so the temple came to him. 00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:41.020 The curse of sin that caused this defect, that prevented him from peace and joy and worship, 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:45.420 by the grace of God in Jesus, he receives wholeness. 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.380 The curse is gone. 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:49.280 He is declared guiltless before him. 00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:51.759 At peace with God, free to be thankful. 00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:53.560 Inside-out rest. 00:30:53.559 --> 00:31:04.700 And the Pharisees, still loving their outside peace, decide Jesus must go. 00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:08.039 He must be gotten rid of. 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:12.879 So I think this leaves us with a question. 00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:14.039 Which peace do we want? 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:18.139 The outside-in or the inside-out that Jesus offers? 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:27.020 The Lord of rest promises you and me to make us whole, starting on the inside, his character and out. 00:31:28.520 --> 00:31:37.380 He promises to give us peace with God, the hope of everlasting rest, to declare us guiltless before God, simply by belonging to him. 00:31:37.840 --> 00:31:41.340 Now if you think about that, why could Jesus declare them guiltless at this point? 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:45.779 Because he was looking forward to what he would do for his disciples. 00:31:46.639 --> 00:31:50.019 He knew the cost he was going to pay for them. 00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:52.439 And he can declare us guiltless before God. 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:57.819 Because he died for us. 00:31:58.859 --> 00:32:01.859 If you come to him for rest, he will declare you guiltless. 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:07.319 But here's the catch, if I can put it like this. 00:32:07.699 --> 00:32:12.139 He's not going to put up with our outside-in way of doing life. 00:32:14.659 --> 00:32:19.959 Like in this passage, he'll keep confronting our trust in outside, external things. 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:25.039 So that he can give us the true rest that comes on the inside. 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:25.879 Knowing him. 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.679 Knowing the Father. 00:32:26.879 --> 00:32:27.459 Knowing the Son. 00:32:29.659 --> 00:32:30.639 So what about for us? 00:32:30.659 --> 00:32:31.539 What are we going to trust? 00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:33.679 The outside-in or the inside-out? 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:38.139 The Lord of rest calls you to come to me. 00:32:38.479 --> 00:32:40.099 I'll give you rest for your souls. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:46.559 And in the book of Hebrews, we're told that day of rest, that promise of rest, still is open for you today. 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:48.019 Tomorrow may not be guaranteed. 00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:49.619 Today it is. 00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:50.119 Come. 00:32:51.459 --> 00:32:52.779 Come and get that rest. 00:32:59.139 --> 00:33:00.419 Just ask him for it. 00:33:00.899 --> 00:33:01.839 That's what faith is. 00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:04.219 You promised it. 00:33:04.219 --> 00:33:05.679 Please give it to me. 00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:17.639 Let me just finish with just a few comments about what this inside-out rest can look like as a Christian. 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:21.160 First, in our approach to the Bible. 00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:40.440 When you hear God's word, whether that's a sermon you're listening to, or whether you open, as much as the sermon is saying the truth, of course, whether it's reading the Bible, listening to a devotional, like, how do you approach the Bible? 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:44.880 Do you approach it as this category of topics? 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:47.140 It's like, where does it talk about parenting? 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:52.540 And you turn to Ephesians 5 or somewhere else. 00:33:52.600 --> 00:33:53.740 Where does it talk about marriage? 00:33:53.860 --> 00:34:02.620 Where does it talk about, I don't know, how I should conduct myself in work and making peace in relationships? 00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:17.159 If we treat it like this encyclopedia of topics of how to live, I think we've got a danger there of using it to create our outside trappings of that good life. 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:23.099 The Bible doesn't, that's not what the Bible's about. 00:34:23.259 --> 00:34:30.859 There's another danger, that when we read it like that, all we hear is God telling us, you must do this. 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:32.899 If you do it, it'll go well with you. 00:34:34.319 --> 00:34:36.679 That'll just put a, that's just going to put a burden on you. 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:40.719 I don't think that'll give you rest if you treat the Bible like that. 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:46.959 But, like we've heard in this story, something greater than David is here. 00:34:47.419 --> 00:34:49.699 Something greater than the temple is here. 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:52.279 Something greater than the law is here. 00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:59.099 Sinclair Ferguson talks about the Old Testament as a pop-up children's book. 00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:05.839 It's like a, we see something concrete, the temple, so that we understand the reality once Jesus comes. 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:07.719 I like that description. 00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:14.599 If we come to the Bible knowing it's all about Jesus, then everything we read will give us rest, 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:19.259 because it expands our understanding of Jesus and his grace towards us. 00:35:19.699 --> 00:35:26.059 It could be confronting, but if we come to it as about Jesus, then it gives us rest every single time. 00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:30.439 Come to it for the external, it'll be a burden. 00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:35.339 Come to it internal, it'll refresh your soul every time. 00:35:37.719 --> 00:35:44.299 And the last thing I want to say is that whatever's going on in our circumstances, 00:35:45.359 --> 00:35:51.579 if Jesus, knowing him, gives us rest, then if you've already come to him, then we have rest now. 00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.480 It is here. 00:35:52.779 --> 00:35:53.699 We have it. 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.939 We have it. 00:35:55.940 --> 00:36:01.340 We are guiltless before God. 00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:06.420 God couldn't love us any more than he already does. 00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:12.039 We've got to remember who is now here. 00:36:12.039 --> 00:36:17.940 And he promises that full rest in his presence is coming. 00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:21.539 We don't have to have it right now in full. 00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:25.119 We do have it internally, but the external is coming. 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:26.639 We can wait for that. 00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:29.619 We don't have to have it now. 00:36:31.179 --> 00:36:31.960 It's coming. 00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:32.720 We don't have it. 00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:33.019 We don't have it. 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.480 We don't have it. 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:40.280 Which I think sets us free to serve others and show them the rest that we have in Jesus. 00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:48.380 I really encourage you to read what Dave Cordard wrote about Rita on the bulletin. 00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:52.119 Rita's enjoying that rest now. 00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:59.960 We'll join her in full in the resurrection, of course. 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:06.460 She understood this inside out really well and demonstrated it well. 00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:14.839 So I think our desire this Christmas for this, to be at peace around the table with our family, 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:21.519 I'm not sure if I'm right or not, but I wonder if that desire is actually a longing for this. 00:37:22.119 --> 00:37:26.759 Heavenly rest as God's family around his table. 00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:34.359 I just wonder if we see it that way, then that just might help us at this point in time. 00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:38.460 So let me finish with a question. 00:37:38.619 --> 00:37:42.619 How will you spend, let's just concentrate on this Christmas. 00:37:42.759 --> 00:37:50.299 How will you spend this Christmas working on that inner rest for yourself and for others who don't know the Lord of rest yet? 00:37:52.119 --> 00:38:00.819 How will you pursue that inner rest for you and others rather than putting your trust in the external trappings? 00:38:02.339 --> 00:38:03.219 Will you pray with me? 00:38:03.339 --> 00:38:03.659 Let's pray. 00:38:03.659 --> 00:38:18.480 Father, again, I ask you to press into our hearts what your word says to us. 00:38:19.099 --> 00:38:27.699 Please help us to see Jesus as Lord, Lord over all things, the circumstances we are in, 00:38:27.699 --> 00:38:31.659 that he is Lord over the external and the internal. 00:38:32.419 --> 00:38:39.480 But we thank you that you prioritise the substance before you give us the trappings. 00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:45.439 Lord, help us not kick against you as you do that. 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:54.980 Help us to rejoice as you take away the external so that you can give us more of a vision of your son and your grace to us in the Lord Jesus. 00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:57.699 So thank you for your word to us this morning. 00:38:57.840 --> 00:38:59.619 Please press it into our hearts. 00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:01.800 In Jesus' name, Amen.