1-2 On a Sabbath, while Jesus was going through the grain fields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3-4 And Jesus answered 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 took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

6-7 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you - is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10-11 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. Luke 6:1-11 (English Standard Version)

The seventh day of the week was a very special day for the Jewish nation. In Genesis 2:2-3 we read that “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested (ceased)  from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.” When God, later, gave Moses some commandments for Israel to live by, one of those commandments was: “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you.” Exodus 20:8-10.

So God wanted his people to have a day to rest from life's daily burdens and business so that they could focus on the vital relationship with their Creator. The problem was that, over the years, the Jewish teachers had developed a long and often complicated set of rules of what you were 'not allowed' to do on the Sabbath day. And because breaking the Sabbath day was punishable by death, their rules had to be strictly obeyed. That's why the Pharisees were so outraged that Jesus allowed his disciples to 'pluck grain' (which was 'working') and then healed someone (also work!) on the Sabbath day. But what did Jesus point out that the religious leaders had missed when they added so many rules. (vs 9).

The Sabbath was intended to be a blessing for mankind not a burden. Jesus used an illustration from the life of David who had 'broken a rule' when he and his men were fleeing for their lives and were famished. (vs 3-4) In Mark's Gospel we're told that Jesus also said that “the Sabbath was made for man - not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)

But Jesus also said something even more amazing in vs 5 of our reading. What are the implications of those words?

It was a claim to equality with God – for it was God who had given the original simple rule about keeping the seventh day holy. That’s what probably made the Pharisees even more furious with Jesus! But it also shows that Jesus wasn't teaching people to disobey God and break his commands – but simply that God never intended that man should make the Sabbath day a list of harsh and difficult to keep rules. True religion should lead to loving God more and seeking to do good to others. The Pharisees ought to have rejoiced and given praise to God that a man who had lived with a withered arm had been healed – even if it was on the Sabbath day. How is it with us - has our faith made us harsh people or helpful ones?