Rest
The Ultimate Giver of Rest

Sunday November 13, 2022 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

Matthew 12:1-13

THE MESSAGE

In this message, I will explain to you what Jesus says about Sabbath and why He is the Lord of the Sabbath. At the end of the message, I will share with you the Sabbath rest Jesus can offer to you.

THE DESIRED OUTCOME

To follow Jesus daily and experience God's rest

THE SCRIPTURE

"Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." -Matthew 12:6-8

THE THREE TEACHINGS OF JESUS REGARDING THE SABBATH

• 1. Human need is more important than observing ceremonial rituals.
• 2. To show mercy is more important than human traditions.
• 3. Jesus is greater than the temple or any institution.

We have noticed already, in this series in Luke 4 that the Sabbath is integrated into the weekly rhythms of Jesus.

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" -Matthew 12:1-2

#1. Human need is more important than observing ceremonial rituals.

1. Jesus illustrated David's experience with the priests and the showbread (1 Samuel 21).
2. But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?" - Matthew 12:3-4

The Pharisees regarded the Sabbath in negative terms.

1. The conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees was not over whether to observe the Sabbath but over how to observe it.
2. The disciples picking ears of grain constitutes a kind of work that was prohibited.
3. The Pharisees described this action as "not lawful."
4. What was more objectionable for the Pharisees was Jesus' act of healing, the event leading the Pharisees to plot against Jesus.

Meeting the needs of people is more important than observing the ceremonial law.

"Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?" -Matthew 12:5

#2. To show mercy is more important than observing man-made traditions.

1. The priests themselves break the Sabbath all the time.
2. "The Temple ritual always involved work - the kindling of fires, the slaughter and the preparation of animals, the lifting of them onto the altar, and a host of other things. This work was actually doubled on the Sabbath for on the Sabbath the offerings were doubled (Numbers 28:9)." (Barclay)

Jesus regarded the Sabbath in a positive term.

1. The Sabbath gives us opportunities to demonstrate compassion and love.
2. The Sabbath itself is a remembrance of God's justice and compassion. He delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15).
3. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and links the Sabbath with compassion and social justice (Isaiah 58:13-14).

The day of pausing from work is a gift for the good of humanity and showing mercy is more important than observing man-made traditions.

"For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." -Matthew 12:8

#3. Jesus is greater than the temple or any institution.

1. Jesus had the authority to know if His disciples broke the Sabbath law because He was the Lord even of the Sabbath.
2. "Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice', you would not have condemned the guiltless." -Matthew 12;6-7
3. The holiness of the house of God does not prohibit participation in acts of compassion and justice.
4. "I desire mercy and not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6) makes explicit the point.
5. God's holy presence on earth is not against the world. He came to sustain and restore the world.

Jesus is greater than the temple and He is a greater demonstration of God's presence on earth. Jesus was God in flesh.

Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"-that they might accuse Him. -Matthew 12:9-10

1. The Sabbath is honored by doing good, or by saving a life.
2. Regard Jesus more than the Temple.
3. How do people regard the Temple? Add how you regard the temple and regard Jesus even more.

Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. -Matthew 12:11-13

1. Our worship on the Sabbath can flavor our work during the week.
2. Flavor your week with compassion, care, and love.

Your Weekly Takeaway

1. Only Jesus can offer greater rest than what the Sabbath (law) offers.
2. What was the Temple for?
3. Worship: Worship the Lord Jesus Christ
4. Sacrifice: Worship The Lord Jesus Christ who sacrificed His life for you
5. Service: Serve the Lord Jesus Christ
6. Joyful Place: Come to Jesus joyfully
7. Holy Place: Honor the Lord Jesus Christ