Luke Chapter 6
Part One: "Work" on the Sabbath

If you haven't done so already, you might find it helpful to read the previous lesson from chapter 5, Jesus and the Pharisees.

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Read Luke 6:1-11

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The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath

It's not the other way around.​

• The Sabbath is not Lord over the Son of Man.

• The Sabbath has no authority over the Son of Man.

• The Son of Man does not obey the Sabbath above all else—but the Son of Man is obedient only to the Father.

• The Sabbath was put into subjection to the Son of Man.

• The Sabbath was, as was the rest of the OT law, used as a "tutor" until Christ came.

  • Read Galatians 3:24-25​

• The law of Christ—The New Covenant - faith, mercy, compassion - replaced the OT law, which includes the Sabbath laws with which the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus as a law breaker.​

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Jesus Questions the Pharisees

Verse 3—"Have you not even read"

Compassion for the needs of people is more important than keeping the letter of the law.

Read James 1:27—Notice that there is no mention of rule keeping.

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Verse 9—"Is it lawful"

When you have the ability to show compassion and help someone, (whether it is on the Sabbath or not) it is evil to refuse to do so. Read James 4:17

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The Reaction of the Pharisees

Verse 11—they were "filled with rage"

The Pharisees cannot and will not see the bigger picture of God's plan for humanity.

They are so caught up in themselves, their power, their position, that all they see in Jesus is a threat to their self-proclaimed authority.

Read Luke 5:39—"The old is good enough"—This is an expression of the Pharisees' attitude. They did not want things to change—they were not truly looking for the Messiah to come—they were hard hearted, selfish, and hypocritical. Although they claimed to and pretended to, they did not truly follow God.

(part 2)

(part 2)