- Adding or Subtracting 4: 2
- 1. Moses warns against adding or subtracting from the Torah
- Jesus reinforced this in Matthew 5: 19
- The problem was the people added rules to their beliefs that nullified the original context of the law.
- Mark 7: 9 – 16 they nullified taking care of parents to obey their own laws and vows.
- This also happened with healing on the Sabbath Matthew 12: 1 – 14
2. Jesus Lord of the Sabbath
- Anyone who does work on the Sabbath will be put to death Exodus 31: 14 – 16
- Jesus was accused of breaking the sabbath and defending his disciples in doing the same.
- He healed on the sabbath
- His disciples picked grain not he sabbath
- He made mud and put it on the eyes of a man on the sabbath
- Disciples pick grain on the Sabbath Matthew 12: 1 – 2
- Harvesting on Sabbath is a punishable offense.
- Death according to Exodus 31: 15
- Jesus does not excuse their work, but he does give two precedents about what they did.
- David and the bread offered for priests.
- It was just changed out so it was the Sabbath (1 Samuel 21: 6)
- They were allowed to eat because they were hungry and starving.
- Work of temple can be performed not he Sabbath Matthew 12:5
- lighting of candles.
- Burning incense
- taking care of the temple supersedes the Sabbath.
- law if there is a negative and a positive happening at the same time, do the positive.
- David and the bread offered for priests.
- Jesus desired mercy not just sacrifice.
- Son of man over the sabbath Vs 8
- not setting it aide because he is God
- Son of Man here is not a divine name for Jesus, but the name of man (Adam)
- Adam created before the sabbath
- He takes priority over the sabbath.
- It is proper to help others on the sabbath.
- Another illustration is the healing of a man with a deformed hand. Matthew 12: 9 – 10.
- Is it wrong to do work on the Sabbath?
- Work is the word melachah
- creative work
- Making of something.
- This healing is a creative work.
- Is it wrong to do good because his life is not in danger.
- Sheep falls into a well you can get it out tomorrow, but to relive its suffering, you get it out today.
- Jesus wants to relieve the suffering of this person.
- Is it wrong to do good on the sabbath? Vs 12
- Proverbs 3: 27, 28 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, who it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, Go and come again tomorrow I will give it—when you have it with you.
- They thought there was no problem in plotting his death on the sabbath Vs 14
3. A New Commandment I give to you John 13: 34
- This is not a new commandment
- Leviticus 19: 18 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
- Jesus was raising the standard of love that we were to show to others.
- How are we to love others?
- We are to love them as Jesus loved us.
- Jesus is always raising the standard of the Torah that we are to live by.
4. Hold Fast to the Lord. Deuteronomy 4: 4
- You are alive today because you hold fast to the Lord.
- We need to hold fast to the Lord
- Cleave or cling.
- Genesis 2: 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined (cleave) to his wife and they shall become one flesh.
- The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him 1 Corinthians 6: 17
- Alive today with eternal repercussions
- Not only are they alive today, but they will be alive eternally.
- Jesus offers more than life after death, but life and spiritual transformation here today.
- Those who cleave to Messiah will not just pass from death to life, but from life to life.