1. Adding or Subtracting 4: 2
  1. 1. Moses warns against adding or subtracting from the Torah
  2. Jesus reinforced this in Matthew 5: 19
  3. The problem was the people added rules to their beliefs that nullified the original context of the law.
    1. Mark 7: 9 – 16 they nullified taking care of parents to obey their own laws and vows.
    2. This also happened with healing on the Sabbath Matthew 12: 1 – 14

2. Jesus Lord of the Sabbath

  1. Anyone who does work on the Sabbath will be put to death Exodus 31: 14 – 16
  2. Jesus was accused of breaking the sabbath and defending his disciples in doing the same.
    1. He healed on the sabbath
    2. His disciples picked grain not he sabbath
    3. He made mud and put it on the eyes of a man on the sabbath
  3. Disciples pick grain on the Sabbath Matthew 12: 1 – 2
    1. Harvesting on Sabbath is a punishable offense.
    2. Death according to Exodus 31: 15
  4. Jesus does not excuse their work, but he does give two precedents about what they did.
    1. David and the bread offered for priests.
      1. It was just changed out so it was the Sabbath (1 Samuel 21: 6)
      2. They were allowed to eat because they were hungry and starving.
    2. Work of temple can be performed not he Sabbath Matthew 12:5
      1. lighting of candles.
      2. Burning incense
      3. taking care of the temple supersedes the Sabbath.
    3. law if there is a negative and a positive happening at the same time, do the positive.
  5. Jesus desired mercy not just sacrifice.
  6. Son of man over the sabbath Vs 8
    1. not setting it aide because he is God
    2. Son of Man here is not a divine name for Jesus, but the name of man (Adam)
      1. Adam created before the sabbath
      2. He takes priority over the sabbath.
      3. It is proper to help others on the sabbath.
  7. Another illustration is the healing of a man with a deformed hand. Matthew 12: 9 – 10.
    1. Is it wrong to do work on the Sabbath?
    2. Work is the word melachah
      1. creative work
      2. Making of something.
    3. This healing is a creative work.
    4. Is it wrong to do good because his life is not in danger.
      1. Sheep falls into a well you can get it out tomorrow, but to relive its suffering, you get it out today.
      2. Jesus wants to relieve the suffering of this person.
    5. Is it wrong to do good on the sabbath? Vs 12
      1. 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.
  8. 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

  1. This is not a new commandment
    1. Leviticus 19: 18 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
  2. Jesus was raising the standard of love that we were to show to others.
  3. How are we to love others?
    1. We are to love them as Jesus loved us.
  4. Jesus is always raising the standard of the Torah that we are to live by.

4. Hold Fast to the Lord. Deuteronomy 4: 4

  1. You are alive today because you hold fast to the Lord.
  2. We need to hold fast to the Lord
    1. Cleave or cling.
    2. 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.
    3. The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him 1 Corinthians 6: 17
  3. Alive today with eternal repercussions
    1. Not only are they alive today, but they will be alive eternally.
    2. Jesus offers more than life after death, but  life and spiritual transformation here today.
    3. Those who cleave to Messiah will not just pass from death to life, but from life to life.