January 17
Gen 35-36 | PS 15 | Prov 3:21-26 | Matt 12:1-21
It is so important to remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:17-18, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.” If we are not careful we can look at the interactions between the religious leaders in Jesus’ day and Jesus and wrongly believe that was a first century problem. Jesus never went against the law. He went against the man-made laws and man-made interpretations of the laws. We better realize that if today Jesus walked into most churches and synagogues they would be offended by His words and not welcome Him. People elevate traditions, rituals, dictates from religious leaders over God’s Word. This is so sad, but true. If you find this in your church, run. If the Son of God would not be welcome or be uncomfortable with your gathering, then the problem is the group gathered, never the Son of God.
We read the first interaction in Matthew 12:1-5, “At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?” We see the next interaction in 12:9-12, “ Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.). And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”” Both situations seem so obvious, but perhaps it is because we are not under the law, and don’t ritually follow the Sabbath. Just try stepping on the self-righteousness of those filling our churches and synagogues and see how well it goes, even if you back it all with the actual Word of God. Again, this is not a “they” thing, it is a “we” thing.
On a completely different note, Jesus said in Matthew 5:33-37, that we should not take oaths. When Laban catches up with Jacob and accuses him of many things, among them one thing which was true, the stealing of his household gods or idols, he accuses Jacob of taking them. Jacob says in Genesis 31:32, "But as for your gods, see if you can find them, and let the person who has taken them die! And if you find anything else that belongs to you, identify it before all these relatives of ours, and I will give it back!” But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the household idols." Shortly after, we read in Genesis 35:19, that Rachel dies in childbirth. Oaths are serious. Interestingly, where Rachel dies is the first mention of the town of Bethlehem, where our Savior was born a little less than 2000 years later. Her son born there was named Benjamin, which means, "son of my right hand", just as Jesus sits at the right hand of God. Rachel stole the idols, which were finally removed in Genesis 35:2, "So Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing." Every time that we read of Rachel with Jacob, Jacob was absolutely captivated by her. We must beware of human idols. When Rachel died, so went Jacob's idol. For couples who have never done so, please consider going through Scripture together. My wife and I do. This does not mean that we read side by side, but read the same portions during the day. This discussion surrounding Rachel was something the two of us added to one another as we simply talked about what we had read. Though many consider reading through Scripture to be something private, I believe when spouses go through together, it is a beautiful way for the Holy Spirit to knit us together.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: