Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 6:1-11 "A SPECIALLY THORNY ISSUE"
Day 66 – Luke 6
Text: Luke 6:1-11
A SPECIALLY THORNY ISSUE
There were a number of religious sects in the days of Jesus. One of the strictest religious sects was called “Pharisees”. They were so literal in their interpretation of the law, they may well be called “wooden literalists”. Their observance of the Old Testament Law was so strict, that they may well be termed “separatists”. Anybody who did not conform to their understanding and practice of the law was “suspect” in their understanding. Many became obnoxiously self-righteous.
The Pharisees were particularly concerned about the keeping of the Sabbath. Their understanding of the keeping of the Sabbath was different from that of Jesus. They were bound to clash over this issue of the Sabbath.
Luke’s recording of Jesus telling the parable(s) of the cloth and wineskins was significantly placed in his gospel narrative. He was preparing readers for inevitable clashes between Jesus and the Pharisees.
They had already clashed on a number of issues:-
1. The Pharisees had rejected the teaching of Jesus concerning the question of the forgiveness of sins. Luke 5: 17-26
2. There was a clash over the question of mixing with tax collectors and sinners Luke 5:27-31. The Pharisees were strict separatists!
3. There was another clash over the issue of fasting. Luke 5:33-35
The worst was yet to come! There was no backing away from this inevitable battle over the thorniest issue of the keeping of the Sabbath! The Pharisees had all kinds of “laws” concerning the keeping of the Sabbath! These were actually man-made laws. However, they kept their man-made laws so religiously that anyone who violated them would be hounded to death!
“WHY ARE YOU DOING WHAT IS NOT LAWFUL TO DO ON THE SABBATH?” Luke 6:2
What was Luke’s authorial intent in highlighting the clashes over the Sabbath issue? In Luke 6, Luke recorded two Sabbath incidents that saw Jesus and the Pharisees clashing over this particularly thorny subject!
Several reasons may be deduced as to why Luke highlighted these frightening clashes between Jesus and the Pharisees. We may divide these reasons into two categories. There was a primary purpose, and that was to help his readers to understand and appreciate who Jesus really was! We may also speak of a secondary purpose, where Jesus sought to expose false doctrines that shackled man to laws that God did not give!
A. Primary Purpose
1. Jesus was presented as “The Lord of the Sabbath”. Luke 6:5
2. This term is of course most significant. If He was indeed the Lord of the Sabbath, then He was the Messiah indeed. The Pharisees in their doctrines believed that one day a Messiah would be sent by God to Israel. They believed in this doctrine, but they failed to see that Jesus was that Messiah, that Lord – of the Sabbath!
B. Secondary purpose
1. The man-made laws taught and imposed by the Pharisees were excessive.
2. These man-made laws were falsely presented as laws of God.
3. These man-made laws bound many to the false, legalistic religious system represented by the Pharisees.
Till Jesus came, these man-made laws went unchallenged! These man-made laws became more and more onerous and burdensome ! They had to be challenged and proven unbiblical for the sake of freeing people from the bondage of the Pharisaical laws!
THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH
Luke never portrayed Jesus as a retiring, weak, phlegmatic Teacher. Jesus was always robust, dynamic, positive and powerful in His life and ministry. Yes, He was prayerful and godly, but He also took time to reach out to people rejected and shunned by society.
Jesus was never afraid of spiritual battles. Wherever the truth of the Scriptures was compromised, wherever falsehood sought to have dominion, He would enter into that battle arena.
He brought light. He taught the Scriptures. He pointed people to God. At all times, Jesus never stooped to under-handed fighting tactics. How He fought His spiritual battles was as important as the spiritual battle itself! How did Jesus find such fortitude of spirit?
“I HAVE THEREFORE SET MY FACE LIKE A FLINT” Isaiah 50:7
We are reminded of a passage in Isaiah that helps us appreciate the fact that Jesus knew what His earthly ministry was going to be like. He must have found strength from knowing and believing the Scriptures,
“For the Lord God will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
He is near who justifies Me;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
Who is My adversary?
Let Him come near Me.
Surely the Lord God will help Me;
Who is He who will condemn Me?” Isaiah 50:7-9
What a tremendous challenge to us to find that same kind of faith and fortitude for life and ministry today. Let us also never be afraid of mighty spiritual conflicts!