In the Fulness of Time/Part 78

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Concerning the Sabbath (continued) Matthew 12:1-13

Illustration# 2: He is greater than the Old Testament Priests. 12:5-6

Mt. 12:5-6 “Or have ye not read 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.”

Numbers 28:10 refers to priests “profaning” the tabernacle by offering sacrifices “every sabbath.” In John 7:22 Jesus says, “If any man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken, are ye angry with me because I have made a man well on the sabbath?” In effect, the Law breaks itself by establishing work for the priests on the sabbath. How could the Pharisees put blame on the One Who is greater than the temple? Here, and in 12:41-42, “one greater” is neuter, but “the neuter, however, can refer to persons when some quality is being stressed rather than the individual, per se” (Quoted by Donald Carson in Matthew – Expositors Bible Commentary, Vol. 8, p. 281. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984). In the context here at verse 8 and in verses 40-42 where the neuter is used, the title “Son of man” occurs, showing the personal use, “One greater,” as the preferable translation.

Illustration# 3: The spiritual is greater than the ceremonial. 12:7-8

Mt. 12:7-8 “But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 here in verse 7 as He did in 9:13. There, the issue was that Jesus ate with publicans and sinners. His rebuke to the Pharisees was that He did not come to call those who were righteous in their own eyes, but those who saw their need of repentance. Here in 12:7 the emphasis is on their condemning of the guiltless disciples. Had the Pharisees recognized the Son of man as Lord of the sabbath, they would never have criticized His disciples for plucking, rubbing and eating grain on the sabbath in order to fulfill service for the Lord of the sabbath with all their might. Christ used the title “Son of man” directly of Himself as Lord of the sabbath. Thus, He was claiming to be God manifest in the flesh. The record of Mark 2:27 added this: “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” It is significant that while there is no attempted rejoinder from the Pharisees, neither do they evidence any repentance. But when “the fulness of time” is come, they will be compelled to recognize Him as Lord of all, but then it will be too late for repentance!

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