Lesson Text: Matthew 12:1-14 King James Version(KJV) Sunday, June 3, 2018 I. JESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATH (Matthew 12:1-8) 1. At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. 2. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 3. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5. Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6. But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. II. JESUS HEALS ON THE SABBATH (Matthew 12:9-14) 9. And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10. And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12. How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. 14. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
New International Version (NIV) I. JESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATH (Matthew 12:1-8) 1. At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath. 3. He answered, Haven t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4. He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5. Or haven t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6. I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7. If you had known what these words mean, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. 8. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
II. JESUS HEALS ON THE SABBATH (Matthew 12:9-14) 9. Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10. and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? 11. He said to them, If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12. How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. 13. Then he said to the man, Stretch out your hand. So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. PRACTICAL POINTS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. People who are judgmental find it very easy to see the faults of others (Matthew 12:1-2). 2. God desires that we put a person s needs above our traditions (Matthew 12:3-5). 3. Every believer should know that God desires mercy more than sacrifice (Matthew 12:6-8; Isaiah 6:6). 4. There are those who will try to entrap us if we don t agree with what they believe (Matthew 12:9-10) 5. Observance of the Lord s Day should not keep us from doing deeds of love and mercy for others (Matthew 12:11-12). 6. God can bring miraculous changes into our lives by His great power (Matthew 12:13). 7. There are always those who will oppose the Lord s work no matter how much good comes from it (Matthew 12:14). ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***