Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath | Matthew 12:1-21

Plucking Grain on the Sabbath

12 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. ² When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” ³ He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ⁴ How he entered the house of God, and they ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests? ⁵ Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are guiltless? ⁶ I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. ⁷ But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

The Man with a Withered Hand

⁹ He left that place and entered their synagogue; ¹⁰ a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. ¹¹ He said to them, “Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? ¹² How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” ¹³ Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

God’s Chosen Servant

¹⁵ When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many followed him, and he cured all of them, ¹⁶ and he ordered them not to make him known. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸ “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,    

my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him, 

and he will proclaim justice to the gentiles.

¹⁹ He will not wrangle or cry aloud, 

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

²⁰ He will not break a bruised reed 

or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory.

²¹  And in his name the gentiles will hope.”

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In Matthew 12:1-21, the Pharisees were concerned with what the “correct” observance of the law was. This included their reflection of Jesus. But my question is, who has the right to define right from wrong or the way things should be? Who has the right to look at a group of people and condemn them for the way they have been doing things simply because others may do it differently? The disciples were ridiculed and looked down upon for doing what they needed to in order to survive. Jesus defends them, revealing himself to be the Lord of the Sabbath. He encouraged the Pharisees to view the disciples’ actions from a different perspective, but this caused them to become vengeful towards Jesus as well. Furthermore, the disciples’ actions did not impact those of the Pharisees, but they shared their disdain anyway.

From an early age, I knew I felt differently towards boys than my friends did. While I was able to hide from this fact for the first few years of my life, I was forced to face it when I was 16 and met my then best friend, Alexandra. I had far more “Pharisees” in my life who would view this secret of mine as “forbidden” than people like Jesus who would dare to defend me. People who would rather spew hatred towards my young heart than protect it with the love it deserved. Because of this mentality, I sacrificed who I was to be looked upon as “good.”

Jesus took the Pharisees' power over the disciples away when he declared himself the Lord of the Sabbath. He showed the disciples that these rules put in place to alienate them were not believed or practiced everywhere they went and that they deserved to feel cared for and fulfilled. It took until I was in my 20’s to finally face my feelings for Alexandra and what they meant to me. My sister was the one who took the power away from the oppressors in my life and reached out her hand to me. Being gay is the most beautiful, warm, joyful experience of my existence. If it wasn’t for my sister, I’m not sure I would see myself as someone deserving of love and care. If it wasn’t for Jesus, I’m not sure the disciples would either.

GRACIOUS GOD, we thank you for allowing us to be our beautiful selves as you made us in your image. For surrounding us with people who see and mirror that beauty to us. For leading us to feel cared for and loved so deeply by you. For giving us the strength to defy such powers that wish to forbid actions they see unjust. We pray you continue to lift us up as we defend what we believe in. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ashley McDonald (she/her)

Clarkstown, NY

Pinecrest President, 9th Year Camper