Matthew 12:1-14 Exception to the Rule
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He 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. 5Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:1-8)
Why were God’s Laws written? This could and has sparked a debate that could go on for eternity. However, Jesus reminds us that is was not written so that we would go through the motions, it was written so that we might grant grace to others. These laws even had caveats for Priests. Not only can Jesus do his work on the Sabbath because he is doing good work, he is the LORD of the Sabbath and greater than even the Temple. He ends this passage with a quote from Hosea, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6) Don’t do things because they hurt you, do things because they help others.
9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11He 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? 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13Then 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. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. (Matthew 12:9-14)
Jesus has told them to use your common sense. If someone needs help no matter the day, help them. You would help your livestock, why not another person?