Jesus Lord of the Sabbath - Matthew 12:8

Matthew the apostle wrote, “At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless”, and in chapter twelve and verse eight of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath” where we read:

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

The verse reads, “For the Son of man is Lord ...” Matthew began with the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “the Son of man” which means “the Messiah who designates himself as the head of the human family, the man, the one who both furnished the pattern of the perfect man and acted on behalf of all mankind ” “is Lord” or “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the Pharisees that He is “the master and reigning One”.

The verse continues, “... even of the sabbath day.” Matthew added the word, “even” which means “indeed and also”, “of the sabbath day” or “the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work ”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the Pharisees that He is the “ruler and master” over the “sabbath day” too.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus, who is greater than the temple in which they worshiped, is also over and above the “sabbath day” which is a “holy day” unto them. God gave people the “sabbath day”, and He rules over it. He provided the place and means by which people would be regularly reminded of a time to devote themselves to Him, and those who are wise will not only know that He is “Lord of the sabbath day”, but also know He desires a personal relationship with them though His Son Jesus.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus, “went into their synagogue”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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