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by Sandy Shaw
Having looked at three other Biblical matters recently, we return to the Gospel of Luke and to Chapter 6. This passage and topic has caused so much trouble and particularly in Scotland. It is the matter of the Sabbath.
Jesus and His disciples are relaxing, strolling, getting away from the clamoring crowds and pressures, on the Sabbath. The disciples begin to pick some ears of corn, and they are accused by the religious legalists and Christ’s critics of harvesting. There were various legalistic prohibitions at this time, which were real burdens to the people, including how far you could walk on the Sabbath without breaking ‘the law’, and dragging a chair across the earthen floor could be regarded as ploughing.
Legalism is a terrible thing.
As a young boy I was taken to see the film “Whisky Galore”. Some years ago I watched it when it appeared on Television, and these early scenes depict a travesty and a caricature of the ‘Sabbath’, and also of the Church of Jesus Christ.
These Pharisees are following Jesus Christ to spy on Him. They loved to argue over superficial trivial matters.
It is possible to follow Jesus for the wrong reasons and with highly questionable motives.
When we move away from what God is doing, we get tied up in irrelevant arguments and discussions.
The real issue here is not what we do or do not do on the Sabbath - but Jesus - who does He think He is?
Verse 6. Jesus is in the synagogue and it is the Sabbath, and these critics reappear looking for an opportunity to accuse Jesus. O, it is all right to accuse or criticise on the Sabbath! Is it?
These men are not present to worship, but to keep a beady eye on Jesus
There was man in the synagogue with a shriveled hand. Would He or wouldn’t He? Following a brief conversation and question Jesus healed that man, and His critics were furious. Jesus had ruffled their feathers once again.
Yes, it is possible to follow Jesus Christ for the wrong reasons. This could put people off Church for ever.
They thought they were Church, but they weren’t. They were pillars of what was crumbling. This is not what God intended them to be. You could not put a mere patch on this to put things right.
They are not interested in the person. This is what I find really difficult in the Bible – observing those who were following after Jesus for suspect reasons and with dubious motives.
Jesus could see right through them, and Jesus still sees right through such people.
He ignored them. He addressed the needy man. The withered hand is healed and usable.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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