Law or Love

N.T.#132 "Law or Love"

August 17, 2023

Matthew 12-Part 6

LET IT GLOW

If it is out of necessity (disciples picked corn to eat on the Sabbath) or a case of life (heal on the Sabbath) as Jesus did, then it is not sinning. Jesus fulfilled the Law which He had established. Love and self-denial are the keys. Serving God and others should be our goal each day. 

In verse 12, Jesus said, Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 

In the Greek language, well means good; honestly; recover; (full) well.

Healing people is more important than keeping the laws of the Pharisees. It is better to provide food by working for it than go hungry on the Sabbath, as well. Doing an action for the sake of a life and not for profit is the purpose here or the priority. Mercy is better than sacrifice. 

After all of that, loosing arguments to Jesus, the Pharisees went out and held their council meet against Jesus, in order to destroy Him. (verse 14) 

Destroy means perish; die.

New Living Translation says, Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

Wow! Do you see the pride in those hearts of the Pharisees? All along they denied that Jesus to be the Messiah, Savior, Son of God. Now they want to get rid of Him. How sad. He went about doing good and they could not stand it. Jesus had followers, too.

What the Pharisees should have done was to surrender then and there. Jesus had proved His divine authority by healing the man. If He can heal instantly, then He has divine authority; if He has divine authority, then His teaching carries divine authority.; if His teaching carries divine authority, then He knows better than the Pharisees do as how to interpret the Sabbath laws. That is what the Pharisees should have thought. (Swindoll) 

LET IT GROW

But you know what? Jesus knew it what they were planning. So He left that area, and many people followed Him. He healed all the sick among them, but He warned them not to reveal who He was. (verses 15-16)

Friend, who do you say Jesus is? Is He just a character in a story book or is He God in the flesh, Savior, perfect sacrifice for yours and my sins? 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. With the heart people believe and with the tongue they confess He is Lord. Have you asked Jesus to come into your heart and be your Savior? Have you asked His forgiveness of your sins?  I pray all who read this will believe today. 

  LET IT GO

O what a Savior! How glorious He is, so merciful and kind and forgiving!