WEBVTT

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 Please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 12.

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 If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand and we'd love to give you a copy for you to have.

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 Use while you're here and you can take it home with you.

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 Matthew chapter 12, verses 1 to 21.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father,

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 you are the author, the ultimate author of this word.

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 And so Lord, speak to us in and through your word and expound to us the true meaning of this passage.

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 Teach us what it means to find soul rest in Christ.

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 Teach us what it means to relate to Jesus our Lord.

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 Lord, who is gentle and lowly, who does not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick.

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 Help us to see Jesus and worship Jesus and relate to him and love Jesus the way he actually is.

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 The way your word reveals him to us.

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 Rather than according to our own prejudices and fancies.

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 Rather than according to how the world portrays him.

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 So draw us nearer to Christ this morning through your word.

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 It's in his precious name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 If you are able, please stand.

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 Join me as I read from Matthew 12, 1 to 21.

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 At that time, Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath.

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 His disciples were hungry and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

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 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him,

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 Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.

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 He said to them,

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 Have you not read what David did when he was hungry and those who were with him?

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 How he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the presence,

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 which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

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 Or have you not read in the law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

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 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

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 And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice,

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 you would not have condemned the guiltless.

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 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

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 He went on from there and entered their synagogue.

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 And a man was there with a withered hand.

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 And they asked him,

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 Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?

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 So that they might accuse him.

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 He said to them,

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 Which one of you who has a sheep,

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 if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath,

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 will not take hold of it and lift it out?

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 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep?

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 So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

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 Then he said to the man,

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 Stretch out your hand.

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 And the man stretched it out,

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 and he was restored, healthy like the other.

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 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him how to destroy him.

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 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there,

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 and many followed him,

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 and he healed them all,

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 and ordered them not to make him known.

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 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah.

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 Behold,

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 Behold,

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 my servant whom I have chosen,

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 my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

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 I will put my spirit upon him,

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 and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

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 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

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 nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

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 A bruised reed he will not break,

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 and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

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 until he brings justice to victory.

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 And in his name,

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 the Gentiles will hope.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Please be seated.

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 The English idiom,

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 Missing the forest for the trees,

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 speaks of a human tendency

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 to focus on small individual details

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 in such a way

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 that we fail to see the larger,

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 more important picture.

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 By fixating on an individual tree,

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 we lose sight of the forest.

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 We lose perspective

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 and fail to grasp the bigger picture.

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 For example,

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 a couple can get so lost

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 in the hundreds of small details

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 in their wedding planning

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 that they fail to take a step back

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 and process adequately

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 the gravity of the wedding vows

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 and the significance

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 of the marriage covenant

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 that they are entering into.

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 Similarly,

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 sometimes Christians,

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 like the Pharisees in this passage,

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 can be too focused

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 on the minutiae

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 of religious rules

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 and rituals

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 that they miss

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 the weightier matters

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 of Christian obedience.

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 For example,

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 there are pastors and priests

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 who are more concerned

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 about the precise wording

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 of a liturgy

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 than about the purity

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 of the gospel

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 that they preach.

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 And there are,

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 in certain churches,

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 church members

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 who are more concerned

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 about making sure

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 that their committee

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 in the church

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 is sticking to the letter

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 by all the church bylaws

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 than about actual obedience

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 to the commands

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 of scripture themselves.

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 I don't say this to discount

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 the importance of liturgies

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 or bylaws.

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 They're not unimportant.

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 However,

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 we also must maintain

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 proper proportion

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 in our belief,

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 in our obedience.

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 In art,

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 it's not just about

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 getting the shapes right

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 or the colors right,

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 but it's also important

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 to get the proportions right

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 for your art to look good.

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 In figure drawing,

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 in order to make

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 a drawing of a human

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 look realistic,

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 you need to follow

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 the eight heads tall rule,

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 or that's what I hear,

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 right?

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 You have to make them

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 as tall as about eight heads,

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 otherwise they will not

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 look proportional.

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 Likewise,

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 in photography,

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 people often speak

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 of the rule of thirds.

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 You divide the frame

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 into thirds,

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 horizontally and vertically,

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 and then you're trying

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 to fit the subject

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 into one of those lines

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 or where they intersect

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 in order to create

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 a more balanced composition

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 or a composition

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 that looks more

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 artistically interesting.

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 In interior design,

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 people speak of

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 the 60-30-10 rule,

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 decorating your house

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 or your room

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 with 60% of the room

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 in the primary color

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 and the 30%

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 in a secondary color

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 and 10%

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 in the accent color

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 in order to create

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 a balanced

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 and cohesive

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 color scheme.

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 It's not just about

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 having the right

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 materials

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 or the right colors,

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 but also about

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 having them

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 in the right proportions.

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 The same is true

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 for Christian life

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 and doctrine.

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 It's not enough

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 merely to believe

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 all the right things.

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 We have to believe

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 them in the right proportions.

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 For I deliver to you

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 as of first importance

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 what I also received,

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 that Christ died

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 for our sins

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 in accordance

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 with the scriptures,

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 that he was buried

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 and he was raised

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 on the third day

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 in accordance

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 with the scriptures.

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 This,

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 the gospel of Jesus Christ,

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 1 Corinthians 15,

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 3-4 tells us,

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 is of first importance.

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 For this reason,

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 if we get more exercise

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 about what people believe

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 concerning the end times

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 and the millennial kingdom

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 of Revelation 20,

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 though they are not

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 unimportant,

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 then about the gospel,

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 whether they believe

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 the gospel of Jesus Christ

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 or not,

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 then something is amiss

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 in our proportion.

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 Jesus will later denounce

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 the scribes

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 and the Pharisees

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 as hypocrites

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 in Matthew 23, 23

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 and he'll say to them,

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 you tithe mint

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 and dill and cumin

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 and have neglected

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 the weightier matters

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 of the law,

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 justice,

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 mercy,

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 and faithfulness.

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 These you ought

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 to have done

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 without neglecting

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 the others.

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 The Pharisees

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 were right to tithe

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 their herbs.

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 Jesus says

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 that they should not

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 neglect to tithe them.

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 However,

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 their proportions

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 were off.

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 They focused

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 on tithing

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 their herbs faithfully

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 while neglecting

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 the weightier matters

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 of the law,

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 justice,

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 and mercy,

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 and faithfulness.

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 The same thing

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 is happening here

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 in Matthew 12.

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 These Pharisees

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 were meticulous,

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 punctilious

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 about keeping the Sabbath,

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 but they were neglecting

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 the weightier matters

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 of the law,

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 namely mercy.

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 This passage

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 presents Jesus

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 as the counterexample

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 to the Pharisees

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 and shows us

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 that Jesus

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 is the merciful Lord

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 who attends

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 to the bruised

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 and the broken.

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 We're going to first

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 see how Jesus

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 is the Lord

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 of the Sabbath

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 in verses 1-14

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 and how he is

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 the hope of the Gentiles

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 in verses 15-21.

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 Here we see

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 two Sabbath controversies

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 between Jesus

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 and the Pharisees

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 in verses 1-14.

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 In the first one,

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 Jesus' disciples

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 are hungry.

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 And so as they go

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 through the grain fields

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 on the Sabbath,

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 they pluck some heads

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 of grain

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 and they start

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 to eat them.

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 But it says

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 in verse 2,

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 when the Pharisees

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 saw it,

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 they said to Jesus,

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 look,

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 your disciples

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 are doing

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 what is not lawful

00:09:54.540 --> 00:09:55.259
 on the Sabbath.

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 The Jews

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 observed a day

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 of rest,

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 of Sabbath rest

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 from Friday sundown

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 to Saturday sundown,

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 and according

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 to the commands

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 of Scripture,

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 it's commanded

00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:06.320
 in the Old Testament.

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 It might seem

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 to us like

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 a peripheral command,

00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:10.900
 something that's

00:10:10.900 --> 00:10:12.180
 not very important.

00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:13.240
 However,

00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:14.940
 for the Jews,

00:10:15.680 --> 00:10:16.780
 for the observant Jews,

00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:17.720
 Sabbath was

00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:19.200
 a part of,

00:10:19.300 --> 00:10:19.980
 really an essential

00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:21.340
 part of Jewish identity,

00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:23.140
 their national identity,

00:10:23.660 --> 00:10:25.060
 and Jewish piety,

00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:25.840
 their worship.

00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:27.540
 It was one

00:10:27.540 --> 00:10:28.300
 of the ten,

00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:29.640
 the great ten commandments

00:10:29.640 --> 00:10:30.900
 found in Exodus 20

00:10:30.900 --> 00:10:31.740
 and Deuteronomy 5,

00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:32.879
 which commands

00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.759
 God's people

00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:35.000
 not to do any work

00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:35.539
 on the Sabbath.

00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:37.519
 In Exodus 31,

00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:38.539
 13-16,

00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:39.899
 God specifically says,

00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:41.000
 Above all,

00:10:41.180 --> 00:10:41.860
 you shall keep

00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:42.399
 my Sabbath,

00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:44.080
 for this is a sign

00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:44.980
 between me and you

00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:46.080
 throughout your generations,

00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:47.139
 that you may know

00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:47.620
 that I,

00:10:47.700 --> 00:10:48.039
 the Lord,

00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:49.240
 sanctify you.

00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.700
 You shall keep

00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:51.139
 the Sabbath

00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:52.019
 because it is

00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:52.919
 holy for you.

00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:54.680
 Everyone who profanes

00:10:54.680 --> 00:10:55.879
 it shall be put

00:10:55.879 --> 00:10:56.899
 to death.

00:10:58.060 --> 00:10:58.700
 Whoever does

00:10:58.700 --> 00:10:59.639
 any work on it,

00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:00.620
 that soul shall be

00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:01.560
 cut off from

00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:02.559
 among his people.

00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:04.439
 Skipping a little ahead,

00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:04.819
 therefore,

00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:05.739
 the people of Israel

00:11:05.739 --> 00:11:06.779
 shall keep the Sabbath,

00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:07.719
 observing the Sabbath

00:11:07.719 --> 00:11:08.719
 throughout their generations

00:11:08.719 --> 00:11:10.319
 as a covenant

00:11:10.319 --> 00:11:11.139
 forever.

00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:13.899
 High-handed violation

00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:15.119
 of the Sabbath

00:11:15.119 --> 00:11:16.179
 was punishable

00:11:16.179 --> 00:11:17.119
 by death

00:11:17.119 --> 00:11:18.079
 in the Old Testament,

00:11:18.699 --> 00:11:19.619
 and the person

00:11:19.619 --> 00:11:20.479
 so executed

00:11:20.479 --> 00:11:22.199
 would not be counted

00:11:22.199 --> 00:11:23.299
 as one of God's

00:11:23.299 --> 00:11:23.919
 chosen people.

00:11:23.979 --> 00:11:24.819
 They were cut off

00:11:24.819 --> 00:11:26.519
 from the promised line.

00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:28.679
 Why is God

00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:30.419
 so insistent

00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:31.039
 on people

00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:32.379
 keeping his Sabbath?

00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:33.539
 Because,

00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:34.240
 as he says

00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.379
 in that passage,

00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:36.439
 it is a sign

00:11:36.439 --> 00:11:37.240
 between me

00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:37.840
 and you,

00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:38.340
 God says.

00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:40.840
 It was by the Sabbath

00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:41.620
 that the Lord

00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:43.240
 sanctified Israel,

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:43.759
 his people.

00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:44.799
 Sanctified meaning

00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:45.919
 set them apart.

00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.639
 This was the way

00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:48.559
 God distinguished

00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:49.419
 the nation of Israel

00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:50.480
 from all the other

00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.519
 nations of the earth.

00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:52.679
 The Sabbath

00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:53.559
 was the sign

00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:54.960
 of the Mosaic covenant

00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:55.780
 that God made

00:11:55.780 --> 00:11:56.460
 with his people.

00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.040
 It marked them

00:11:58.040 --> 00:11:58.759
 as his own

00:11:58.759 --> 00:11:59.680
 special possession.

00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.060
 This is why

00:12:02.060 --> 00:12:02.980
 Sabbath was a point

00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:04.180
 of national pride,

00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:05.080
 and to profane

00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:05.639
 the Sabbath

00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:06.340
 in effect

00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:07.540
 was to disown

00:12:07.540 --> 00:12:08.560
 the Lord God

00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:09.139
 himself,

00:12:10.540 --> 00:12:10.820
 saying,

00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:11.360
 I don't want

00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:11.860
 anything to do

00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:12.139
 with him.

00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.300
 I don't want

00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:14.700
 the mark

00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:15.440
 of being set apart

00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:15.820
 for him.

00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.900
 So the Pharisees

00:12:18.900 --> 00:12:19.840
 were not wrong

00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:21.139
 to take the

00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:21.980
 Sabbath commandment

00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:23.000
 very seriously,

00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:24.500
 and Jesus

00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:25.340
 nowhere in this

00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:26.299
 passage suggests

00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:26.919
 that they should

00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:27.539
 stop keeping

00:12:27.539 --> 00:12:27.960
 the Sabbath

00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:29.360
 because it's

00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.299
 not all that

00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:30.620
 important.

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:31.980
 It's not what

00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:32.460
 Jesus says.

00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:34.100
 However,

00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:34.639
 the Pharisees

00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:35.340
 were wrong

00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:35.820
 in a couple

00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:36.759
 of different ways.

00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:38.159
 One,

00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:39.000
 they were wrong

00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:39.700
 in their interpretation

00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:40.600
 of the Sabbath

00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:40.940
 law,

00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:42.220
 and two,

00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:43.480
 they were wrong

00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.340
 in their biblical

00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:45.100
 proportion,

00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:46.320
 the biblical proportion

00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:47.039
 that they gave

00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:48.039
 to Sabbath keeping.

00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:49.820
 It says in Exodus

00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:50.279
 20,

00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:51.259
 verses 8 to 10,

00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:52.179
 remember the Sabbath

00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:53.259
 day to keep it holy.

00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:54.379
 Six days you shall

00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:55.200
 labor and do all

00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:55.559
 your work,

00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:56.100
 but the seventh

00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:56.740
 day is a Sabbath

00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:57.620
 to the Lord your God.

00:12:57.720 --> 00:12:58.319
 On it you shall

00:12:58.319 --> 00:12:59.580
 not do any work.

00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:00.799
 Neither you nor

00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:01.519
 your son or daughter

00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:02.860
 or your male servants

00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:03.840
 or your female servants

00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.519
 or even your animals.

00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:07.919
 The original

00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:08.779
 biblical command

00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:09.720
 regarding the Sabbath

00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:10.759
 was pretty straightforward

00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:11.620
 and simple.

00:13:12.319 --> 00:13:13.059
 Don't do

00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:14.100
 what you normally

00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:16.100
 do six days

00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:16.500
 of the week.

00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.139
 Don't do

00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:19.340
 your regular

00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.419
 work

00:13:20.419 --> 00:13:21.159
 that you're

00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:21.939
 employed to do.

00:13:23.579 --> 00:13:24.419
 Exodus 34,

00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:25.860
 21 specifies

00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:26.659
 a little bit further.

00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:27.120
 It says,

00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:28.279
 six days you shall

00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:28.639
 work,

00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:29.539
 but on the seventh

00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.659
 day you shall rest.

00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:32.199
 In plowing time

00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:33.240
 and in harvest

00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:34.779
 you shall rest.

00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:36.379
 Even in

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.539
 the extremely

00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.500
 time-sensitive

00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.620
 periods for farmers

00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:40.679
 of plowing

00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:42.059
 and harvesting,

00:13:43.099 --> 00:13:43.519
 the Israelites

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.139
 were commanded

00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:45.199
 to observe the Sabbath.

00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:48.540
 Now,

00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.560
 this is where

00:13:49.560 --> 00:13:50.220
 the controversy

00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:51.100
 lay with the Pharisees

00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:51.720
 in this passage.

00:13:52.220 --> 00:13:53.280
 By the first century

00:13:53.280 --> 00:13:54.060
 there had been

00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:55.320
 over a millennia

00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:56.400
 of complicated

00:13:56.400 --> 00:13:57.540
 Jewish debate

00:13:57.540 --> 00:13:58.620
 over the nuances

00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.879
 of the Sabbath command

00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:01.400
 trying to define

00:14:01.400 --> 00:14:02.060
 precisely

00:14:02.060 --> 00:14:02.940
 what exactly

00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:04.100
 constitutes work.

00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:05.980
 And by this point

00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:07.060
 Pharisees had agreed

00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:07.920
 upon a list

00:14:07.920 --> 00:14:09.500
 of 39 categories

00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:10.259
 of activities

00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:11.200
 that they believed

00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.320
 should be classified

00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:12.960
 as work

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:13.340
 and therefore

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.340
 forbidden on the Sabbath.

00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:16.680
 And they were

00:14:16.680 --> 00:14:17.460
 so complicated

00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:18.040
 sometimes

00:14:18.040 --> 00:14:19.080
 and difficult

00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:19.720
 that even

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.180
 the Jewish

00:14:20.180 --> 00:14:21.100
 rabbi notes

00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.180
 in the Mishnah,

00:14:22.300 --> 00:14:22.879
 which is a collection

00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.340
 of Jewish

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:24.080
 oral traditions,

00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.200
 he says this,

00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.480
 the rules about

00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:26.960
 the Sabbath

00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.399
 are as mountains

00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.820
 hanging by a hair.

00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:31.980
 For the teachings

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:34.780
 of Scripture

00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.660
 thereon is scanty

00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:39.019
 and the rules

00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.860
 many.

00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:41.180
 So they're

00:14:41.180 --> 00:14:42.740
 hanging a mountain

00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:43.720
 on a hair

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.200
 of Scripture.

00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:46.399
 Mountains of regulations.

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.180
 Because harvesting

00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.800
 was explicitly forbidden

00:14:50.800 --> 00:14:52.220
 in Exodus 34-21,

00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:53.879
 the Jewish rabbis

00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:55.500
 considered reaping

00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.860
 and threshing

00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.120
 as two of the

00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.019
 39 activities

00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.800
 that were forbidden.

00:15:01.160 --> 00:15:02.000
 Now we can see

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.879
 why the Pharisees

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.420
 were upset

00:15:03.420 --> 00:15:04.040
 at the disciples.

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:05.639
 The disciples

00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.340
 were not doing

00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:06.920
 anything wrong

00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:07.399
 in terms of

00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:07.840
 going through

00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:08.500
 the grain fields

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.120
 and plucking heads

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.420
 of grain

00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:10.120
 and eating them

00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:10.460
 even though

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:10.879
 it was not

00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.519
 their field

00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.199
 because the

00:15:12.199 --> 00:15:12.779
 Old Testament

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.539
 specifically

00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.620
 allowed for that.

00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.319
 In Deuteronomy

00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:17.819
 23, 24-25,

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:18.799
 it specifically

00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.139
 said the poor

00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:21.259
 may go through

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.919
 other people's

00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:22.419
 grain fields

00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:22.819
 and pluck

00:15:22.819 --> 00:15:23.360
 heads of grain

00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:23.919
 and eat them.

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.460
 If they took

00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.039
 a sickle

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.480
 and started

00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.059
 harvesting

00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:27.699
 other people's

00:15:27.699 --> 00:15:27.919
 field,

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:28.299
 it would be

00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:28.659
 considered

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.100
 thievery.

00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:30.759
 But if they

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.500
 just plucked it

00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.100
 with their hands

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.419
 and ate

00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:32.799
 because they

00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:33.199
 were hungry,

00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:33.559
 it would be

00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:33.980
 considered

00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:34.539
 charity.

00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:36.199
 So the disciples

00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:37.259
 had the right

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:37.639
 to do

00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.019
 what they

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.659
 were doing.

00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:41.740
 The problem,

00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:42.059
 however,

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:42.899
 for the Pharisees

00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:43.459
 is that it

00:15:43.459 --> 00:15:44.039
 was happening

00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:44.939
 on the Sabbath.

00:15:45.939 --> 00:15:46.439
 They pluck

00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:47.099
 a head of grain.

00:15:48.719 --> 00:15:48.959
 Hey,

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.360
 that's harvesting.

00:15:50.839 --> 00:15:51.599
 You're reaping.

00:15:52.459 --> 00:15:52.879
 And then they

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:55.059
 start rubbing

00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:55.620
 it in their hands

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.319
 to get the chaff

00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:56.899
 off so they

00:15:56.899 --> 00:15:57.439
 could eat the

00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:57.699
 grain.

00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:58.059
 They say,

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:58.279
 no,

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.279
 you are reaping.

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.319
 No,

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.079
 you are threshing.

00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:02.039
 Reaping and

00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:02.480
 threshing,

00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:03.019
 they're both

00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.799
 forbidden activities.

00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:04.360
 Two of those

00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.419
 39 categories.

00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:06.379
 And so you

00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:07.060
 are breaking

00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:07.659
 the Sabbath

00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.120
 because you

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.039
 are harvesting.

00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.360
 But they're

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.019
 being overly

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:14.600
 fussy about

00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:14.899
 the Sabbath

00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:15.360
 requirement,

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:15.779
 as we can

00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:15.940
 see,

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:16.639
 because the

00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.139
 commands were

00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:17.759
 quite simple

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.320
 in its original

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:18.899
 context,

00:16:19.300 --> 00:16:19.680
 and the

00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.340
 disciples weren't

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.120
 really working

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.300
 because they're

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:22.919
 not farmers.

00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.500
 They're not

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:26.060
 over-eager

00:16:26.060 --> 00:16:27.180
 farmers who

00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:27.600
 are trying to

00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:28.480
 sneak in a

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:28.879
 little bit of

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.659
 overtime work

00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:29.940
 during the

00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.940
 Sabbath to get

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:31.440
 some extra

00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:31.960
 cash.

00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:33.420
 They're

00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:35.039
 itinerant

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:35.639
 preachers.

00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:37.000
 They don't

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.319
 get to

00:16:37.319 --> 00:16:37.879
 feast every

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.120
 day.

00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:39.240
 They're

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:39.679
 hungry,

00:16:40.099 --> 00:16:40.899
 and they're

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.559
 taking some

00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:42.299
 heads of

00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:43.019
 grain and

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.559
 eating them.

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.579
 This is why

00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:47.000
 later in

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.419
 verse 7,

00:16:47.479 --> 00:16:47.979
 Jesus tells

00:16:47.979 --> 00:16:48.519
 the Pharisees

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:48.719
 that they

00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:49.339
 have condemned

00:16:49.339 --> 00:16:50.360
 the guiltless.

00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:51.319
 So we know

00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:51.799
 that Jesus

00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.839
 disagrees with

00:16:52.839 --> 00:16:53.579
 the Pharisees'

00:16:53.719 --> 00:16:54.599
 interpretation of

00:16:54.599 --> 00:16:55.019
 the Sabbath

00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:55.399
 law.

00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.259
 But note that

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:58.240
 that's not the

00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:58.799
 point that

00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.819
 Jesus presses.

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.219
 He doesn't

00:17:01.219 --> 00:17:02.339
 argue with them

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:02.879
 by saying,

00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.000
 well, what

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.519
 my disciples

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.100
 are doing

00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:05.860
 don't actually

00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:06.460
 count as

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.480
 work because

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.299
 they're not

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:08.960
 farmers, and

00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.480
 plucking some

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.000
 heads of grain

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.380
 and eating

00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.519
 them does not

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:11.980
 constitute

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.440
 harvesting.

00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.279
 Jesus doesn't

00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:13.840
 say that,

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.299
 even though

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:14.840
 that's true.

00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.759
 If Jesus

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.420
 argued that,

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:17.740
 then he

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.039
 would have

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.519
 gotten enmeshed

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.519
 in the

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:20.920
 rabbinical

00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.579
 debates about

00:17:21.579 --> 00:17:22.440
 what constitutes

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:22.980
 work and

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:23.360
 what the

00:17:23.360 --> 00:17:23.980
 category should

00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:24.880
 be, and

00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.160
 he would

00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:25.620
 have played

00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.340
 right into

00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:27.100
 the Pharisees'

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.220
 obsession with

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:28.700
 the letter

00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.240
 of the law.

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.539
 So instead,

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.660
 Jesus turns to

00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:33.460
 address the

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.640
 legalistic heart

00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:35.740
 of the Pharisees

00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:36.900
 by pressing a

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:37.539
 much more

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:39.000
 fundamental question

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.740
 about the

00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.500
 spirit of the

00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:40.680
 law.

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.500
 He questions the

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.019
 Pharisees in

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.859
 verses 3-4,

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:44.799
 have you not

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.620
 read what David

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.359
 did when he was

00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.140
 hungry and those

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:47.559
 who were with

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.359
 him, how he

00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:48.819
 entered the

00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:49.380
 house of God

00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:49.920
 and ate the

00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.319
 bread of the

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:50.900
 presence, which

00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.339
 it was not

00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:51.940
 lawful for him

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:52.839
 to eat, nor

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.480
 for those who

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.099
 were with him,

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:54.779
 but only for

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.339
 the priests?

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:56.859
 Jesus is

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.639
 alluding to

00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:58.919
 1 Samuel 21

00:17:58.919 --> 00:18:00.019
 verses 1-6.

00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:01.539
 After finding out

00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.299
 from his friend

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.099
 Jonathan that

00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.959
 King Saul is

00:18:03.959 --> 00:18:05.099
 bent on killing

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.240
 him, David

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.459
 flees, and

00:18:07.459 --> 00:18:07.919
 during his

00:18:07.919 --> 00:18:08.659
 flight, he

00:18:08.659 --> 00:18:09.359
 comes to

00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.199
 Ahimelech, the

00:18:10.199 --> 00:18:11.759
 high priest, the

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.419
 priest of Nob, and

00:18:13.419 --> 00:18:14.399
 then he asks for

00:18:14.399 --> 00:18:15.379
 loaves of bread.

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:16.619
 The priest

00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.439
 answers David,

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.279
 I have no

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.500
 common bread on

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.659
 hand, but there

00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:21.799
 is holy bread.

00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:23.539
 According to

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:25.199
 Leviticus 24, 8-9,

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.299
 every Sabbath

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.639
 day, the high

00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:28.319
 priest was to

00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.480
 set out 12

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.500
 freshly baked

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.459
 loaves of bread

00:18:31.459 --> 00:18:33.119
 inside the

00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:33.879
 temple, and

00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:34.139
 then he was

00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:34.399
 supposed to

00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:35.199
 take out the

00:18:35.199 --> 00:18:36.359
 old batch from

00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.019
 the previous

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:37.859
 week, and

00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.859
 then he and

00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:40.599
 his sons, other

00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:41.579
 priests, were

00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.039
 supposed to

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:43.079
 consume that

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:44.480
 week-old bread

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.919
 in the holy

00:18:45.919 --> 00:18:47.480
 place, and they

00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.059
 were the only

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.039
 ones who were

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.799
 allowed to eat

00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:49.959
 it.

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.139
 The bread of

00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:51.799
 the presence

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.859
 literally means

00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:53.459
 in Hebrew, the

00:18:53.459 --> 00:18:54.379
 bread before the

00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:55.319
 face, because

00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:55.839
 it's the bread

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.679
 that sits before

00:18:56.679 --> 00:18:57.279
 the face of

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:57.720
 God in the

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.259
 temple of the

00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:58.480
 Lord.

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.559
 It represents

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:02.039
 the presence of

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.679
 God, the living

00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:04.220
 God, dwelling with

00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:04.879
 his people and

00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.519
 having fellowship

00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:05.980
 with them.

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:06.779
 That's why there's

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.539
 12 loaves,

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:08.539
 representing the

00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:09.419
 12 tribes of

00:19:09.419 --> 00:19:10.399
 Israel, communing

00:19:10.399 --> 00:19:11.359
 with God

00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:11.839
 himself.

00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.500
 This is also

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.220
 called the show

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.700
 bread in

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:16.599
 different parts of

00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:17.259
 the Bible, because

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.259
 it's displayed or

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:20.099
 shown inside the

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.359
 temple.

00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:20.419
 people.

00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.559
 So these 12

00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:24.179
 loaves that are

00:19:24.179 --> 00:19:25.740
 taken out, it

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.359
 was a Sabbath

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.740
 day when David's

00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.639
 visiting, and so

00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:30.019
 this old batch has

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.559
 been taken out, and

00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:32.979
 Ahimelech gives

00:19:32.979 --> 00:19:34.819
 them to David to

00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.119
 eat.

00:19:37.479 --> 00:19:38.079
 And because

00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:40.699
 Leviticus 24, 9

00:19:40.699 --> 00:19:41.719
 says that this

00:19:41.719 --> 00:19:42.419
 bread must be

00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:43.199
 eaten in the

00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:43.919
 holy place,

00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:45.000
 presumably David

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.500
 and his men

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.319
 entered the holy

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.599
 place to eat it,

00:19:47.639 --> 00:19:48.379
 which is what Jesus

00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:48.980
 says in this

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.460
 passage, he

00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.460
 entered the

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.900
 temple to eat

00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:52.160
 it.

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.860
 And yet, nowhere

00:19:55.860 --> 00:19:56.840
 in Scripture is

00:19:56.840 --> 00:19:58.600
 David or Ahimelech,

00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.900
 the priest, condemned

00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.140
 for this infraction.

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.760
 By sharing the

00:20:04.760 --> 00:20:05.600
 story, Jesus is

00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:06.340
 exposing the

00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:07.120
 blindness of the

00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:07.700
 Pharisees.

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.720
 Aren't your

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.920
 Scriptures your

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.800
 final authority?

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.800
 Have you not

00:20:13.800 --> 00:20:14.960
 read what David

00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.700
 did when he was

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.540
 hungry and those

00:20:16.540 --> 00:20:16.960
 who were with

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.140
 him?

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:18.320
 It was not

00:20:18.320 --> 00:20:19.440
 lawful for David

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.340
 to eat that

00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:21.120
 bread, nor for

00:20:21.120 --> 00:20:21.980
 his men to eat

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.640
 that bread.

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.660
 And yet, God

00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.540
 did not condemn

00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:26.280
 them for that

00:20:26.280 --> 00:20:27.520
 illegal activity.

00:20:29.540 --> 00:20:30.140
 Note the

00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:30.820
 repetition of the

00:20:30.820 --> 00:20:31.400
 phrase, not

00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:31.940
 lawful.

00:20:33.020 --> 00:20:33.940
 It was not

00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:34.660
 lawful, they

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.280
 said, for the

00:20:35.280 --> 00:20:36.160
 disciples to eat

00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:37.520
 the grain on

00:20:37.520 --> 00:20:37.920
 the Sabbath.

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.080
 And then Jesus

00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:39.720
 said it was not

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.580
 lawful for David

00:20:40.580 --> 00:20:42.000
 to eat the

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.480
 show bread.

00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:44.440
 So what's the

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.040
 point that Jesus

00:20:45.040 --> 00:20:45.780
 is driving at?

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:47.180
 Note the

00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.019
 repetition also of

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.740
 the word hungry

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.639
 in verse 1.

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.079
 Matthew told us

00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.399
 that Jesus'

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:52.059
 disciples were

00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.599
 hungry.

00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.160
 And then Jesus

00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:54.700
 tells us in

00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.240
 verse 3 that

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.879
 David and his

00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:57.279
 men were hungry.

00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.720
 The hunger and

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.619
 need of the

00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.740
 disciples at that

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:03.019
 time seems to be

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.759
 one of the points

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.379
 that Jesus is

00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:04.680
 making.

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.460
 In the parallel

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.200
 account in Mark

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.279
 2, 23, 28,

00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:09.119
 Jesus makes this

00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:10.680
 point explicitly by

00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.379
 saying that David

00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:12.960
 was in need and

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.639
 was hungry, he and

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.160
 those who were

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:15.600
 with him.

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.400
 Now please don't

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.040
 hear what I'm not

00:21:18.040 --> 00:21:18.360
 saying.

00:21:18.580 --> 00:21:19.300
 Jesus is not

00:21:19.300 --> 00:21:20.480
 saying that the

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.280
 various dietary

00:21:21.280 --> 00:21:22.320
 restrictions of the

00:21:22.320 --> 00:21:23.340
 Old Testament all

00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:24.259
 go out the window as

00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:24.600
 soon as you're

00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:24.960
 hungry.

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:25.580
 Right?

00:21:28.020 --> 00:21:29.040
 He's not saying

00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:29.740
 that the law of

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.759
 God can be bent

00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.800
 and broken for all

00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:33.140
 kinds of self-perceived

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:33.780
 extenuating

00:21:33.780 --> 00:21:34.400
 circumstances.

00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:37.780
 But what Jesus is

00:21:37.780 --> 00:21:39.320
 getting at and

00:21:39.320 --> 00:21:40.460
 he's doing is to

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.720
 get the Pharisees to

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.759
 examine their own

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.600
 hearts and consider

00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.719
 the implications of

00:21:44.719 --> 00:21:45.879
 their overly strict

00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.759
 application of

00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:47.419
 Sabbath law.

00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:50.639
 What if the poor

00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:51.899
 are hungry and in

00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:53.099
 need on the

00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:53.659
 Sabbath day?

00:21:55.179 --> 00:21:56.059
 Never mind the

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.740
 farmers who have

00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:57.719
 jobs and who have

00:21:57.719 --> 00:21:58.719
 fields and they

00:21:58.719 --> 00:21:59.459
 should rest on the

00:21:59.459 --> 00:22:00.240
 Sabbath day after

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.039
 working for six

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.399
 days.

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.719
 But what about the

00:22:02.719 --> 00:22:03.539
 poor who don't have

00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:05.299
 a farmland and

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.019
 they're hungry?

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.539
 Can they pluck some

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.299
 heads of grain and

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.659
 eat them?

00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.359
 Are you really

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.839
 honoring God by

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.919
 your rigorous

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.680
 application of

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.440
 Sabbath preventing

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.940
 them from taking

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.980
 plucking some heads

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.880
 of grain and eating

00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:18.120
 them?

00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.340
 This is Jesus'

00:22:20.560 --> 00:22:21.140
 point in verse

00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:21.420
 seven.

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:21.960
 You're getting the

00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.940
 proportions wrong.

00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:23.960
 He says, if you

00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:25.279
 had known what this

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.560
 means, I desire mercy

00:22:26.560 --> 00:22:27.480
 and not sacrifice,

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.620
 you would not have

00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:29.539
 condemned the

00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.100
 guiltless.

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.759
 He's citing Hosea

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.039
 6 there.

00:22:33.580 --> 00:22:34.120
 For I desire

00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:35.200
 steadfast love and

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.279
 not sacrifice the

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.080
 knowledge of God

00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:37.860
 rather than burnt

00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:39.180
 offerings, which he's

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.000
 already quoted once

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.720
 before in Matthew

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.440
 9, 13.

00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:43.599
 God cares about the

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:45.259
 heart, not just the

00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:45.759
 appearances.

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.079
 God cares that you

00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:49.160
 keep the spirit of the

00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:50.359
 law, not just the

00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:51.099
 letter of the law.

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:53.079
 If you neglect the

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:54.500
 love of neighbor to

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:56.240
 keep the minutia of

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.319
 Sabbath regulations,

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.039
 then you have the

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.940
 proportions of

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:01.019
 Scripture wrong.

00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.980
 Jesus is also making

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:06.779
 another point about his

00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:08.059
 identity and his

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.579
 authority.

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.859
 Try to put yourself in

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.920
 the Pharisee's shoes for

00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:12.480
 a moment.

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:15.000
 Jesus just came up with

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:16.259
 this amazing comeback

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:18.039
 of the story of David.

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.480
 What would be your

00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.539
 comeback to Jesus

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.879
 mentioning the story of

00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.079
 David?

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.740
 The first thing that

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:26.740
 comes to my mind in

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.279
 the shoes of the

00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.920
 Pharisee is, well, that

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.440
 was David.

00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:32.480
 He's no ordinary chap.

00:23:33.639 --> 00:23:35.500
 He's the anointed one.

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:37.099
 He is the future king

00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.539
 of Israel.

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:39.380
 In fact, he is the

00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:40.319
 greatest king in the

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.079
 history of Israel.

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:43.440
 Surely the high priest

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.480
 made an exception for

00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:44.720
 him.

00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:49.019
 Ah, so you do admit

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.640
 that for certain cases

00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.299
 the law makes

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.900
 exceptions.

00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:55.240
 When David is invoked

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.059
 in the Gospels, we

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:57.420
 have to pay attention.

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.059
 Matthew, in

00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.400
 particular, mentions

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.460
 David more frequently

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.339
 than any other New

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:03.019
 Testament writer.

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.759
 In the genealogy of

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.839
 Jesus in chapter 1,

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.319
 Matthew took pains to

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:08.500
 know repeatedly that

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:10.619
 Jesus is the son of

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:12.200
 David, descendant of

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:13.099
 David from the royal

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:13.539
 house.

00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.319
 Jesus is frequently

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.579
 addressed by that title

00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.619
 son of David throughout

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.700
 the Gospel of Matthew.

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.940
 And if David and his

00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:22.900
 men could eat the bread

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.000
 of the presence, which

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.900
 only the priests were

00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:27.660
 allowed to eat, is it a

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.379
 problem that the

00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.920
 disciples of the son of

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:32.480
 David, the Messiah, are

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.640
 plucking and eating some

00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:35.860
 grain on the Sabbath.

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.400
 Though Jesus doesn't say

00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:40.299
 this explicitly here, he

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.819
 is implying that something

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:43.599
 greater than David is

00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:43.900
 here.

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.420
 That's the recurring

00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:47.660
 thrust of chapter 12.

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.980
 Jesus will make this point

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:50.099
 explicitly in verse 6,

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.319
 where he says, I tell you

00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:52.960
 something greater than the

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:54.059
 temple is here.

00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.680
 He'll say it again in verse

00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.099
 41.

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:58.099
 Something greater than Jonah

00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:58.799
 is here.

00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:00.299
 And again in verse 42,

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.740
 something greater than

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.899
 Solomon is here.

00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:05.399
 In fact, Jesus will later

00:25:05.399 --> 00:25:06.680
 make this point in Matthew

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:08.940
 22, 41 to 46, that he is

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:10.879
 in fact greater than David.

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:14.139
 He is David's Lord.

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.879
 This is the point that Jesus

00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:20.919
 presses home in verses 5 and

00:25:20.919 --> 00:25:21.240
 6.

00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:23.019
 Or have you not read in the

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:24.519
 law how on the Sabbath the

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:26.019
 priests in the temple profane

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:27.579
 the Sabbath and are guiltless?

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:29.799
 I tell you something greater

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:31.240
 than the temple is here.

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.720
 Jesus is making the good

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:35.480
 observation that the priests

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:39.220
 are working all through the

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.480
 Sabbath.

00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:42.759
 In fact, according to Numbers

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:44.779
 28, they work twice as hard

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:46.460
 on the Sabbath because they

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.699
 have to make double the number

00:25:47.699 --> 00:25:48.720
 of sacrifices that they

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:50.139
 normally make on regular days.

00:25:53.639 --> 00:25:55.699
 By doing this, they profane the

00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.640
 Sabbath, Jesus says.

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.539
 Treat the Sabbath like the

00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.640
 other days in some sense.

00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:02.440
 And yet they are guiltless, as

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.400
 Jesus says in verse 5.

00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:04.640
 How can this be?

00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.960
 There were special categories

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.440
 of work that were allowed

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.360
 even on the Sabbath.

00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:11.120
 And one of them was work

00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:11.819
 inside the temple.

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:15.360
 In John 7, 19 to 24, Jesus

00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:16.880
 brings up another example of

00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.380
 this kind.

00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:18.840
 When the Jewish leaders give

00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:20.420
 him a hard time about healing

00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.819
 a man on the Sabbath, Jesus

00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:23.580
 brings up the fact that even

00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:25.659
 they circumcise their infants

00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:27.699
 on the Sabbath day, if it

00:26:27.699 --> 00:26:28.939
 falls on the eighth day when

00:26:28.939 --> 00:26:30.460
 they're supposed to circumcise

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.079
 their infants.

00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.099
 So he says, if on the

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:34.399
 Sabbath a man receives

00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.619
 circumcision so that the law

00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:36.819
 of Moses may not be broken,

00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:38.659
 are you angry with me because

00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:40.039
 on the Sabbath I made a man's

00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:41.079
 whole body well?

00:26:41.699 --> 00:26:43.419
 Do not judge by appearances,

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:45.339
 but judge with right judgment.

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:48.139
 The Pharisees were missing the

00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:49.960
 forest for the trees.

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:52.779
 They were so fixated on keeping

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:54.480
 the letter of the law that

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.559
 they were missing the spirit

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.559
 of the law entirely.

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:59.079
 What was the purpose of the

00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.700
 Sabbath anyway?

00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.180
 God intended it to be a

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:03.400
 blessing to his people.

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:06.279
 God intended it to give them

00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.960
 rest from their labors.

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:10.740
 And yet, ironically, because of

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:13.120
 the many accretions of rules

00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:14.960
 and regulations over centuries

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:17.120
 and millennia that the Jews

00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:18.860
 had added to the Sabbath command,

00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:21.039
 instead of being restful,

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.959
 it became burdensome.

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:26.579
 Sabbath was intended to be by

00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:28.479
 God an expression of our love

00:27:28.479 --> 00:27:30.579
 for neighbor because masters

00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:32.319
 were required to let their

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:34.139
 servants and let their children

00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:36.240
 and even their animals rest

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.599
 on the Sabbath day.

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:40.359
 But by their over rigorous

00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:41.819
 application of the Sabbath,

00:27:41.979 --> 00:27:43.659
 the Pharisees were discouraging

00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:46.000
 and preventing people from doing

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.839
 good deeds, which are expressions

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:50.059
 of the love of neighbor on the

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.339
 Sabbath.

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.819
 Such as letting poor people

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:55.980
 pluck and eat some grain or

00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:58.720
 letting the sick receive healing.

00:28:01.679 --> 00:28:03.139
 When the rubber meets the road,

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.679
 Jesus is saying in verse 7,

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:08.679
 I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:11.480
 This doesn't mean that sacrifices

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.279
 are not important.

00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.920
 Read the book of Leviticus.

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.259
 It's all about sacrifices.

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:18.519
 Nonetheless, showing mercy to your

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:20.240
 neighbor is even more important.

00:28:21.560 --> 00:28:23.880
 That is the weightier matter of the law.

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:27.140
 To press this point home further,

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:30.340
 Jesus performs a miracle of healing

00:28:30.340 --> 00:28:32.600
 in the following passage in verses 9 to 14.

00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:34.759
 On the Sabbath, seeing a man

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.759
 with the withered hand,

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:38.219
 the Pharisees in the synagogue

00:28:38.219 --> 00:28:40.579
 pick a theological fight with Jesus.

00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:43.159
 Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?

00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:48.079
 The Jewish oral tradition allowed the work

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.399
 of healing on the Sabbath,

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:51.859
 but only under extenuating circumstances.

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:54.579
 For example, if there's a life-threatening injury

00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:57.079
 or if a woman is giving birth to a child,

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:59.240
 then they were allowed to work

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:01.160
 and assist in that labor.

00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:05.099
 The man that has a withered arm

00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:06.359
 is an entirely different story.

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.680
 If he has a withered arm,

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:10.240
 most likely he probably has

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.960
 some form of paralysis in his arm.

00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:14.680
 And when you don't get to use your arm

00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.420
 for a long time,

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:17.440
 the muscles atrophy and it withers.

00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.839
 And so he has this.

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.819
 But this is a permanent condition.

00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.900
 It's a chronic condition,

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:24.120
 one that he may have had

00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:25.460
 for a very, very long time.

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:27.180
 And certainly, it won't do him

00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:29.360
 that much harm to wait just one day

00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:33.799
 so that he can be healed

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:35.700
 on what's not the Sabbath.

00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:38.519
 That's the point that the Pharisees are making.

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:41.820
 But Jesus makes an even better point

00:29:41.820 --> 00:29:43.340
 in verses 11 to 12.

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:46.060
 Which one of you who has a sheep,

00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:47.779
 if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath,

00:29:48.100 --> 00:29:50.000
 will not take hold of it and lift it out?

00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:53.080
 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep?

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:56.060
 So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

00:29:56.059 --> 00:30:00.539
 Jesus appeals to the common sensical

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:02.559
 and popular sentiment of his day

00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.679
 that most Jews,

00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:05.099
 even the Pharisees apparently,

00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:05.919
 subscribe to,

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.519
 that if on the Sabbath day

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:09.359
 your sheep falls into the pit,

00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:10.960
 then they would not hesitate

00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:13.659
 to pull the sheep out of the pit.

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:17.339
 Surely the animal could wait there

00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.359
 until the next day.

00:30:20.419 --> 00:30:22.940
 But instead, they pull the animal out.

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:25.900
 If helping out your animal

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:27.960
 is permissible on the Sabbath,

00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:31.000
 why not helping a fellow human?

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:36.779
 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep?

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:41.340
 The Sabbath was intended to offer rest

00:30:41.340 --> 00:30:42.820
 and relief for people.

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:45.759
 So if the Sabbath is keeping you

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:47.240
 from doing that for people,

00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:49.000
 then you are missing the very point

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.559
 of the Sabbath.

00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:52.299
 So Jesus concludes,

00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:55.299
 it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:59.299
 And note the utter blindness of the Pharisees.

00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.359
 He says in verse 14,

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:03.559
 the Pharisees went out and conspired against him

00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:05.319
 how to destroy him.

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:09.139
 Here they are faulting Jesus

00:31:09.139 --> 00:31:11.700
 for doing good on the Sabbath

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:15.440
 while they themselves are plotting murder

00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:17.139
 against Jesus on the Sabbath.

00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:22.560
 See how far they have strayed

00:31:22.560 --> 00:31:24.820
 from the true intent of the law.

00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:27.820
 When the law of God that we obey

00:31:27.820 --> 00:31:28.980
 and the command,

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.980
 and that we teach to others,

00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:33.000
 when that law becomes

00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:35.720
 not a means to give life to people,

00:31:35.840 --> 00:31:38.660
 but instead a means to bludgeon people.

00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:42.840
 If the law of God that we preach

00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:46.120
 does not spring from humble love for people

00:31:46.120 --> 00:31:49.320
 and rather from self-righteous legalism,

00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:53.360
 then we are missing the forest for the trees.

00:31:56.360 --> 00:31:59.580
 Applying Jesus' positive, broad principle here,

00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:01.740
 it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath,

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:04.460
 would have radically transformed

00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:06.640
 the way the Jews were observing the Sabbath

00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.220
 at the time.

00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:10.779
 Jesus is not saying don't ever rest.

00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:13.079
 He does call his disciples to come away

00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:14.880
 and rest time to time.

00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:18.940
 But why does Jesus think

00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:20.600
 that he has the authority

00:32:20.600 --> 00:32:22.720
 to transform the Sabbath in this way?

00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:27.720
 Who is he to make such an authoritative pronouncement

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.600
 about the law of God?

00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:31.360
 So let's go back to understand that

00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:33.500
 to verse 6 and verse 8.

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:35.259
 Jesus said in verse 6,

00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:36.799
 I tell you,

00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:39.099
 something greater than the temple is here.

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:41.859
 That's an audacious statement.

00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:45.099
 The temple is the focal point of Jewish worship.

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:47.339
 It's the very dwelling place of God.

00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:48.180
 Yet Jesus says,

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:50.980
 I am greater than the temple.

00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:56.400
 He can say that because he is the new temple of God

00:32:56.400 --> 00:33:01.059
 who in his flesh makes the once for all sacrifice for sin

00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:04.759
 and in so doing fulfills the entire law of God

00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:08.019
 and brings about the end of the entire sacrificial system.

00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:12.259
 This is why Jesus repeats that word guiltless in verse 7

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:13.279
 to refer to his disciples.

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:17.059
 The priests who work inside the temple on the Sabbath are guiltless.

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:19.759
 Well then, so are my disciples, Jesus says,

00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:22.480
 because they are following and attending to me.

00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:26.379
 And that work is even more important

00:33:26.379 --> 00:33:28.920
 than the temple duties that continue in the Sabbath.

00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:35.220
 This is a staggering claim about Jesus' identity and authority.

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:37.200
 Jesus is greater than the temple

00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:40.019
 because he's not merely the dwelling place of God.

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:43.220
 He is the dwelling of God himself,

00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:45.019
 God in human flesh.

00:33:47.100 --> 00:33:49.080
 Jesus makes a similar point in verse 8.

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:52.039
 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:56.839
 He's saying, I am the master of the Sabbath.

00:33:57.639 --> 00:33:58.019
 How?

00:33:58.619 --> 00:34:00.440
 This too is a claim to divinity.

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:02.559
 In several places in the Old Testament,

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:06.759
 Exodus 31, 13, Leviticus 19, Isaiah 56, verse 4,

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:12.400
 Yahweh, the Lord God, describes the Sabbath as my Sabbath.

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.820
 They're his.

00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:16.320
 This is my Sabbath.

00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:17.579
 They belong to me.

00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:21.719
 And Jesus is saying here, Sabbath is mine.

00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:24.719
 I am the Lord of the Sabbath.

00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:26.840
 The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:29.340
 Jesus is not merely a law keeper.

00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.699
 He is the law giver.

00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:34.159
 He is the Son of Man prophesied of in Daniel chapter 7.

00:34:34.259 --> 00:34:37.960
 He is the messianic king who has cosmic divine authority.

00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:41.719
 The Sabbath itself exists to serve Jesus.

00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:45.119
 It exists to do Jesus' bidding.

00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:47.739
 It exists to point to Jesus.

00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.860
 How does it do that?

00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:56.779
 Now we see why this passage follows on the heels of the preceding passage,

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:59.420
 Matthew 11, 25 to 30, that we looked at last week.

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.900
 Look at verse 1.

00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:04.360
 At that time, Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath.

00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:08.759
 That phrase, at that time, links this passage to the preceding passage,

00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:12.820
 where Jesus promised to his followers in chapter 11, verse 28,

00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:18.580
 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:23.519
 The purpose of the Sabbath was to give rest to God's people.

00:35:23.640 --> 00:35:28.240
 And it's not a coincidence that this passage is followed by two Sabbath controversies.

00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:32.559
 Jesus is saying, in essence, what he said earlier in Matthew 5, 17,

00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:35.559
 I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill them.

00:35:35.939 --> 00:35:38.599
 I am the fulfillment of the Sabbath.

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:46.099
 Just like how Jesus is the Passover lamb who is sacrificed for sin,

00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:48.819
 so he's the fulfillment of the Passover feast,

00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:52.519
 just as Jesus is the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles,

00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:56.719
 which commemorated the time that the Israelites lived in tents in the wilderness,

00:35:56.980 --> 00:36:00.519
 drinking water from the rock that God provided for them.

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:03.539
 And in that context of celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles,

00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:06.000
 what did Jesus say in John 7, 37 to 38?

00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:09.019
 If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:11.900
 Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said,

00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:14.840
 out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:18.219
 I am the fulfillment of the Passover.

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:21.159
 I am the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles.

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:23.500
 I am the fulfillment of the Sabbath,

00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:27.480
 and therefore I am able to give you rest for your souls.

00:36:27.480 --> 00:36:35.260
 The Sabbath that the Pharisees taught was wearisome and burdensome.

00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:40.760
 They tie up heavy burdens, Jesus said in Matthew 23, 4.

00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:44.719
 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders,

00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:48.619
 but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:50.760
 But instead, Jesus says,

00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:55.599
 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:58.500
 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

00:36:58.539 --> 00:37:00.639
 for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

00:37:00.799 --> 00:37:02.920
 and you will find rest for your souls.

00:37:03.219 --> 00:37:06.860
 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

00:37:08.360 --> 00:37:12.579
 This is why Hebrews 4 teaches that the only way we can enter

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:16.739
 that eternal Sabbath rest that God has promised to his people

00:37:16.739 --> 00:37:20.219
 is through Jesus Christ, the great high priest,

00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:21.880
 who is greater than David,

00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:23.619
 who is greater than the temple.

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:29.139
 That's why in Colossians 2, 16 to 7, Paul writes,

00:37:29.299 --> 00:37:31.619
 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you

00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:33.299
 in questions of food and drink,

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:37.420
 or with regard to a festival, or a new moon, or a Sabbath.

00:37:38.359 --> 00:37:41.019
 These are a shadow of the things to come,

00:37:41.239 --> 00:37:43.460
 but the substance belongs to Christ.

00:37:44.900 --> 00:37:48.880
 The Sabbath was merely a shadow of the substance,

00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.920
 the real thing that was to come.

00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:55.900
 The Sabbath was merely a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:56.760
 who was to come,

00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:59.180
 because Jesus is the one who fulfills the Sabbath

00:37:59.180 --> 00:38:03.800
 and offers us eternal life and soul rest.

00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:08.380
 This is why I don't teach that observing a physical Sabbath

00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:08.920
 is no longer...

00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:12.500
 I don't teach that the physical Sabbath

00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:14.200
 is a legal requirement for Christians.

00:38:14.199 --> 00:38:18.379
 Though certainly there can be wisdom in the practice of regular rest.

00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:21.819
 The sole rest that Jesus offers

00:38:21.819 --> 00:38:24.439
 is for all those who rest from their works,

00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:27.199
 recognizing that no amount of the good works that they do

00:38:27.199 --> 00:38:28.299
 can earn their salvation,

00:38:28.839 --> 00:38:32.919
 but instead believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross,

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:35.919
 the good news that Jesus died for our sins

00:38:35.919 --> 00:38:37.579
 and was raised for our justification,

00:38:37.579 --> 00:38:40.880
 so that all of his righteous deeds

00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:44.940
 are counted on behalf of those who have put their faith in him.

00:38:47.279 --> 00:38:49.759
 This is how Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.

00:38:51.259 --> 00:38:53.380
 And because Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath,

00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:55.139
 he is also the hope of the Gentiles.

00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:58.139
 Aware that the Pharisees are plotting to kill him,

00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:59.759
 Jesus withdraws from the synagogue

00:38:59.759 --> 00:39:02.199
 and then continues his ministry of healing

00:39:02.199 --> 00:39:03.880
 to those who follow him.

00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:06.099
 But as he does that, interestingly,

00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:08.559
 he orders them not to make him known,

00:39:08.780 --> 00:39:09.720
 he says in verse 16.

00:39:10.440 --> 00:39:12.260
 This is, again, a consistent pattern

00:39:12.260 --> 00:39:14.260
 that we've noted so far in the Gospels, right?

00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:15.460
 In chapter 8, verse 4,

00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:16.599
 after cleansing a leper,

00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:19.079
 Jesus told him to say nothing to anyone.

00:39:19.880 --> 00:39:21.160
 In chapter 9, verse 25,

00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:24.340
 when Jesus raised a ruler's daughter from the dead,

00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:27.079
 he first made sure that the crowd had been put outside.

00:39:28.059 --> 00:39:29.820
 In chapter 9, verse 30 to 31,

00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:31.599
 after healing the two blind men,

00:39:31.680 --> 00:39:33.019
 he sternly warned them,

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:34.940
 see that no one knows about it.

00:39:35.619 --> 00:39:37.780
 And then later in Matthew 16, 19 to 21,

00:39:37.940 --> 00:39:40.380
 when Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ,

00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:42.019
 the promised messianic king,

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:44.420
 Jesus strictly charges his disciples

00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:46.659
 to tell no one that he is the Christ.

00:39:47.539 --> 00:39:48.860
 And he says the same thing again

00:39:48.860 --> 00:39:51.519
 after his transfiguration in chapter 17, verse 9.

00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:53.940
 Until the right time,

00:39:54.079 --> 00:39:56.719
 Jesus keeps his identity under wraps,

00:39:57.239 --> 00:40:00.659
 until it is time for him to go die on the cross

00:40:00.659 --> 00:40:02.320
 as the atoning sacrifice for sin,

00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:06.559
 Jesus avoids full-on confrontation with these Pharisees.

00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:12.200
 And this humility and this modesty of Jesus' ministry,

00:40:12.340 --> 00:40:13.220
 according to Matthew,

00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:17.280
 is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 42, 1 to 3,

00:40:17.380 --> 00:40:19.519
 which he cites in verses 18 to 21.

00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:20.519
 Behold,

00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:21.400
 behold,

00:40:21.400 --> 00:40:23.739
 my servant whom I have chosen,

00:40:24.259 --> 00:40:27.000
 my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased,

00:40:27.340 --> 00:40:29.139
 I will put my spirit upon him,

00:40:29.739 --> 00:40:31.960
 and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

00:40:32.179 --> 00:40:34.559
 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

00:40:34.739 --> 00:40:37.139
 nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:40.280
 A bruised reed he will not break,

00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:42.300
 and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:44.880
 until he brings justice to victory,

00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:47.200
 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.

00:40:48.220 --> 00:40:50.980
 This is a fairly loose translation of Isaiah 42,

00:40:51.200 --> 00:40:54.500
 but the translation serves Matthew's purposes,

00:40:54.680 --> 00:40:56.800
 because verse 18 closely echoes

00:40:56.800 --> 00:40:59.559
 what God the Father pronounced over his son

00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:02.720
 when Jesus was baptized in chapter 3, verse 16 to 17.

00:41:03.260 --> 00:41:04.380
 As the heavens opened,

00:41:04.579 --> 00:41:07.099
 he saw the Spirit of God descend upon him like a dove

00:41:07.099 --> 00:41:08.240
 and come to rest on him,

00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:09.699
 and then the voice from heaven,

00:41:09.779 --> 00:41:11.079
 the Father's voice pronounced,

00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:15.059
 this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.

00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:18.319
 So he's describing those same intimate terms,

00:41:18.459 --> 00:41:21.399
 my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased,

00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:23.439
 I will put my spirit upon him.

00:41:24.059 --> 00:41:26.179
 Jesus, unlike the Pharisees,

00:41:27.099 --> 00:41:29.199
 has the Father's signature.

00:41:30.959 --> 00:41:33.659
 Jesus' ministry is not the loud,

00:41:34.039 --> 00:41:37.019
 brash, attention-seeking, self-centered ministry,

00:41:37.019 --> 00:41:39.840
 but a quiet, humble, faithful,

00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:41.719
 and God-centered ministry.

00:41:42.860 --> 00:41:44.579
 Jesus' ministry not one

00:41:44.579 --> 00:41:46.699
 where he lays heavy burdens on people,

00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:51.380
 but rather one where he lifts the burdens off of people.

00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:57.000
 Look at how tenderly Jesus is described in verse 20.

00:41:58.139 --> 00:42:00.400
 A bruised reed he will not break,

00:42:00.820 --> 00:42:03.440
 and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

00:42:03.800 --> 00:42:06.079
 until he brings justice to victory.

00:42:07.019 --> 00:42:11.099
 A reed in those days was used for measuring things like a ruler,

00:42:11.440 --> 00:42:13.619
 or for supporting things.

00:42:14.739 --> 00:42:19.159
 But a bruised reed is not sturdy enough for either of those purposes.

00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:23.039
 It's good only for being snapped off,

00:42:23.639 --> 00:42:25.500
 and used for fodder for the fire.

00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:30.300
 But Jesus is a gentle and lowly Lord,

00:42:30.760 --> 00:42:33.099
 who will not break a bruised reed.

00:42:34.320 --> 00:42:36.519
 Instead, he will tape it up,

00:42:37.860 --> 00:42:38.500
 nurture it,

00:42:38.840 --> 00:42:42.340
 in hopes that the fibers will grow stronger again,

00:42:42.500 --> 00:42:44.320
 and that it will grow tall,

00:42:44.679 --> 00:42:45.199
 and strong,

00:42:45.300 --> 00:42:45.860
 and straight,

00:42:46.019 --> 00:42:47.340
 and be a useful reed.

00:42:47.340 --> 00:42:50.940
 Likewise,

00:42:51.140 --> 00:42:52.039
 back in those days,

00:42:52.460 --> 00:42:54.880
 people used strips of linen cloth

00:42:54.880 --> 00:42:56.460
 as lamp wick,

00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:58.780
 and if it began to smoke,

00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:00.940
 then it was not very useful

00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:02.460
 as a lamp,

00:43:02.720 --> 00:43:03.960
 or as forgiving light,

00:43:04.320 --> 00:43:06.800
 because the smoke could only impede visibility,

00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:07.980
 and pollute the air.

00:43:07.980 --> 00:43:11.860
 A smoldering wick is a wick that is weak,

00:43:12.039 --> 00:43:13.199
 that's about to go out.

00:43:13.639 --> 00:43:16.179
 It has small bits of amber burning on it,

00:43:16.219 --> 00:43:19.500
 but no real flame that gives off light and heat.

00:43:20.880 --> 00:43:22.619
 Most people would at that point

00:43:22.619 --> 00:43:24.059
 just wet their fingers,

00:43:24.260 --> 00:43:26.679
 and snuff out the fire.

00:43:28.059 --> 00:43:30.320
 But because Jesus is gentle,

00:43:30.719 --> 00:43:31.699
 and lowly,

00:43:32.440 --> 00:43:36.119
 the Lord will not quench the smoldering wick.

00:43:36.119 --> 00:43:37.759
 Instead,

00:43:38.239 --> 00:43:39.339
 He will shield it.

00:43:39.799 --> 00:43:41.359
 He will blow on it.

00:43:42.299 --> 00:43:45.500
 Fan it back until it's aflame again.

00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:51.500
 Beloved brothers and sisters,

00:43:52.239 --> 00:43:53.000
 children of God,

00:43:54.119 --> 00:43:59.179
 do you feel like you're a good-for-nothing bruised reed this morning?

00:44:02.920 --> 00:44:05.139
 Barely holding on to the tree of Christ,

00:44:05.139 --> 00:44:08.719
 do you feel like a smoldering wick?

00:44:09.539 --> 00:44:13.179
 There's more smoke in your life than fire and light,

00:44:14.259 --> 00:44:16.500
 barely burning the lamp of Christ.

00:44:17.460 --> 00:44:18.759
 Do you feel weak,

00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:20.480
 blemished,

00:44:21.279 --> 00:44:21.639
 poor,

00:44:22.139 --> 00:44:22.839
 and needy?

00:44:23.359 --> 00:44:24.960
 Well, then this is encouragement to us

00:44:24.960 --> 00:44:27.420
 that our Savior does not break a bruised reed,

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:29.779
 and He does not quench a smoldering wick.

00:44:30.559 --> 00:44:32.940
 We don't need to hide our weaknesses.

00:44:32.940 --> 00:44:36.700
 We don't need to hide our wounds from our head,

00:44:36.820 --> 00:44:37.340
 Jesus Christ,

00:44:37.400 --> 00:44:38.639
 or from His body,

00:44:38.760 --> 00:44:39.740
 the Church of Christ.

00:44:41.579 --> 00:44:42.720
 We can instead,

00:44:42.820 --> 00:44:44.740
 as it says in Hebrews 4, 15-16,

00:44:45.099 --> 00:44:48.079
 come to the throne of God with confidence.

00:44:49.820 --> 00:44:51.760
 Because Jesus is the high priest

00:44:51.760 --> 00:44:54.000
 who sympathizes with our weaknesses,

00:44:54.659 --> 00:44:57.420
 knowing that we will receive mercy

00:44:57.420 --> 00:45:00.340
 and find grace to help us in our time of need.

00:45:03.300 --> 00:45:06.920
 Do you see other bruised reeds around you?

00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:10.360
 Do you see smoldering wicks all around you?

00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:14.920
 Then seek to imitate the compassion and mercy

00:45:14.920 --> 00:45:16.220
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:45:17.920 --> 00:45:20.300
 Aim to see good in people.

00:45:20.300 --> 00:45:24.920
 Instead of fixating only on the smoke,

00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:27.060
 only on the bruises,

00:45:27.400 --> 00:45:27.660
 and saying,

00:45:27.740 --> 00:45:28.980
 oh, look at all those bruises.

00:45:30.160 --> 00:45:31.420
 Look at all that smoke.

00:45:32.920 --> 00:45:35.240
 And then being inclined to write them off

00:45:35.240 --> 00:45:36.620
 and dismiss them offhand.

00:45:38.280 --> 00:45:39.940
 Labor to see what is good in them

00:45:39.940 --> 00:45:41.460
 as Jesus does for us.

00:45:42.640 --> 00:45:44.800
 Labor to see that tiny ember

00:45:44.800 --> 00:45:46.380
 that is still there burning.

00:45:46.380 --> 00:45:50.500
 And fatten into flame with encouragement.

00:45:53.160 --> 00:45:56.280
 Cover up their bruises with love.

00:45:57.500 --> 00:46:00.160
 Bandage it with the love of Christ

00:46:00.160 --> 00:46:01.440
 that you have received from him.

00:46:05.420 --> 00:46:07.500
 I want to recommend to you a book

00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:11.260
 by a 16th century English pastor

00:46:11.260 --> 00:46:12.340
 named Richard Sibbes.

00:46:12.440 --> 00:46:13.860
 It's called The Bruised Read.

00:46:13.960 --> 00:46:15.019
 It's based on this passage.

00:46:15.019 --> 00:46:17.320
 And in it he says this,

00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:20.599
 Men must not be too curious

00:46:20.599 --> 00:46:23.280
 in prying into the weaknesses of others.

00:46:24.380 --> 00:46:26.460
 We should labor rather to see

00:46:26.460 --> 00:46:28.559
 what they have that is for eternity,

00:46:29.159 --> 00:46:31.639
 to incline our heart to love them,

00:46:32.320 --> 00:46:33.920
 than into what weakness

00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:35.119
 which the Spirit of God

00:46:35.119 --> 00:46:37.619
 will in time consume to estrange us.

00:46:38.880 --> 00:46:40.940
 Some think it's strength of grace

00:46:40.940 --> 00:46:42.679
 to endure nothing in the weaker,

00:46:42.679 --> 00:46:45.779
 whereas the strongest are readiest

00:46:45.779 --> 00:46:48.699
 to bear with the infirmities of the weak.

00:46:50.779 --> 00:46:54.000
 Do you see it as a mark of your strength

00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:55.599
 and maturity and discernment

00:46:55.599 --> 00:46:58.539
 to harp on any weaknesses

00:46:58.539 --> 00:46:59.779
 and bruises you see

00:46:59.779 --> 00:47:01.279
 and smokes you see in other believers?

00:47:01.280 --> 00:47:11.600
 I'm not saying that there's no place

00:47:11.600 --> 00:47:13.820
 for correction or admonishment.

00:47:14.300 --> 00:47:15.800
 Scriptures give ample evidence

00:47:15.800 --> 00:47:17.200
 that that's what we're supposed to do

00:47:17.200 --> 00:47:18.580
 as well in the body of Christ.

00:47:19.320 --> 00:47:21.600
 However, I'm afraid that I've failed

00:47:21.600 --> 00:47:23.000
 in many ways in this regard

00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:25.060
 and that many of us fail in this regard

00:47:25.060 --> 00:47:27.540
 to be as compassionate and merciful

00:47:27.539 --> 00:47:30.039
 as our Savior toward one another.

00:47:33.639 --> 00:47:36.259
 And this is what gives hope for the Gentiles.

00:47:36.940 --> 00:47:38.239
 Isn't that interesting in this passage?

00:47:39.059 --> 00:47:41.699
 That Jesus is in controversy

00:47:41.699 --> 00:47:43.219
 with the Jews and the Pharisees

00:47:43.219 --> 00:47:45.699
 and then in the passage that follows,

00:47:46.340 --> 00:47:47.579
 it describes him as the one

00:47:47.579 --> 00:47:49.519
 who proclaims justice to the Gentiles

00:47:49.519 --> 00:47:50.300
 in verse 18.

00:47:50.860 --> 00:47:51.920
 And in verse 21, it says,

00:47:51.920 --> 00:47:54.260
 in his name, the Gentiles will hope.

00:47:55.159 --> 00:47:57.119
 The Gentiles are not people

00:47:57.119 --> 00:47:59.220
 that are usually in the in crowd

00:47:59.220 --> 00:48:00.380
 in the Gospel of Matthew.

00:48:02.220 --> 00:48:04.200
 In Matthew 5.47, Jesus,

00:48:04.300 --> 00:48:05.880
 if you greet only your brothers,

00:48:05.980 --> 00:48:06.840
 what more are you doing?

00:48:06.940 --> 00:48:08.740
 Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

00:48:09.960 --> 00:48:13.380
 Matthew 6.7, the Gentiles heap up empty phrases

00:48:13.380 --> 00:48:17.159
 when they pray, thinking that they will be heard by God.

00:48:17.159 --> 00:48:22.539
 In Matthew 18.17, when your fellow Christian brothers and sisters,

00:48:22.679 --> 00:48:25.079
 instead they refuse to repent of their sin

00:48:25.079 --> 00:48:26.859
 and continue in their sin,

00:48:27.239 --> 00:48:29.119
 it says to dissociate from them

00:48:29.119 --> 00:48:31.039
 and treat them like a Gentile.

00:48:33.259 --> 00:48:35.259
 Gentiles are people who are excluded.

00:48:35.559 --> 00:48:37.239
 Gentiles are the people who don't belong

00:48:37.239 --> 00:48:38.619
 to the covenant community of God.

00:48:38.899 --> 00:48:43.519
 So how is it that Jesus is the hope of the Gentiles?

00:48:43.579 --> 00:48:45.759
 He proclaims justice to the Gentiles

00:48:45.760 --> 00:48:48.200
 because Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.

00:48:49.080 --> 00:48:50.960
 Remember, what is the covenant mark

00:48:50.960 --> 00:48:54.700
 that sets the Jews apart from the Gentiles?

00:48:54.960 --> 00:48:55.800
 It's the Sabbath.

00:48:57.620 --> 00:48:59.580
 It's the Sabbath that sets them apart.

00:48:59.680 --> 00:49:01.880
 And Jesus says, I am the Lord of the Sabbath.

00:49:02.600 --> 00:49:05.220
 I have come to fulfill the sign of the Sabbath.

00:49:05.760 --> 00:49:07.480
 And so I will die on the cross

00:49:07.480 --> 00:49:10.680
 for the sins of all people, Jews and Gentiles,

00:49:10.980 --> 00:49:13.120
 so that all those who repent of their sins

00:49:13.120 --> 00:49:14.260
 and trust in me,

00:49:14.260 --> 00:49:17.220
 in me they will find the rest that they seek,

00:49:17.320 --> 00:49:18.680
 the life that they seek,

00:49:19.020 --> 00:49:21.740
 the eternal soul rest that only I can give.

00:49:21.880 --> 00:49:23.700
 I give even to Gentiles

00:49:23.700 --> 00:49:25.700
 because I have fulfilled justice.

00:49:26.380 --> 00:49:28.500
 I have fulfilled the righteousness of God.

00:49:28.860 --> 00:49:32.040
 I receive the just wrath of God

00:49:32.040 --> 00:49:33.640
 and the judgment of God on the cross

00:49:33.640 --> 00:49:37.120
 so that I can extend mercy without end

00:49:37.120 --> 00:49:39.360
 to all those who come to me.

00:49:39.360 --> 00:49:44.740
 That's why Jesus is the hope of the Gentiles.

00:49:46.980 --> 00:49:50.019
 So brothers, sisters, let's learn from this.

00:49:50.820 --> 00:49:55.820
 And I want to close with this blessing from Jude

00:49:55.820 --> 00:49:57.059
 and exhortation from Jude,

00:49:57.059 --> 00:50:00.559
 which talks about showing mercy to the bruised and the broken.

00:50:00.559 --> 00:50:00.659
 Amen.

00:50:04.039 --> 00:50:05.980
 Keep yourselves in the love of God,

00:50:06.519 --> 00:50:09.079
 waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:50:09.079 --> 00:50:10.579
 that leads to eternal life.

00:50:11.500 --> 00:50:13.900
 And have mercy on those who doubt.

00:50:15.019 --> 00:50:18.039
 Save others by snatching them out of the fire.

00:50:19.099 --> 00:50:21.739
 To others, show mercy with fear,

00:50:22.299 --> 00:50:24.380
 hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

00:50:24.380 --> 00:50:28.539
 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling

00:50:28.539 --> 00:50:30.660
 and to present you blameless

00:50:30.660 --> 00:50:33.220
 before the presence of his glory with great joy.

00:50:33.760 --> 00:50:35.660
 To the only God, our savior,

00:50:36.079 --> 00:50:37.579
 through Jesus Christ, our Lord,

00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:41.140
 be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority

00:50:41.140 --> 00:50:43.760
 before all time and now and forever.

00:50:45.000 --> 00:50:45.400
 Amen.

00:50:45.400 --> 00:50:45.559
 Amen.