Fri.’s Devo - Lord of the Sabbath

Read Luke 6:1-5 Why does verse one say, “It came to pass on the second sabbath after the first” as if that was significant? It is because it is significant. The first sabbath would be Tishri 7. Tishri 1 is the first day of the Jewish year. The first sabbath would be Tishri 7 and the second sabbath would be Tishri 14. This is the season of Yom Kippor where the people repent of their sins and come to God to atone for them. In the end it will be the time when the church has been taken to heaven and there will be great tribulation on the earth. There will be much tribulation, but many will be reaped into the kingdom during that time. So lets look at what Jesus teaches us about that time. Jesus and his disciples are walking through a cornfield and they pluck some of the ears of corn and rub the kernels off and eat them. The Pharisees come to him and ask him why he breaks the sabbath laws by reaping the ears of corn which they call “work”. Jesus reminds them of what David did when he was running from Saul and hungry. He went to the priest and the only bread the priest had was shewbread from the altar. David was in a war and needed that to sustain him. He did what was necessary. David understood spiritual things and knew that he was sustained daily by God’s Word so his heart won him God’s mercy. Mercy always triumphs over judgment. On the last Yom Kippor it won’t be a sabbath of rest but of reaping. Everyone will need to work for the kingdom during that time and do whatever is necessary just to stay alive. That is why Jesus ended with the statement, “the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath”. He was speaking of not only himself but of his disciples that would come after him. It is the argument of grace over law. Grace always wins. Lord, help us to choose mercy over judgment and grace over law.