Have you ever wondered why it often seems like Jesus intentionally irritated the Pharisees? Often in His ministry He did so to show them a better way of living and honoring God.  I think other times He did it because His ultimate reason to be here was to die for our sins and He knew He needed religious leaders to be the instigators of that.  Let’s look at a passage from Luke 6 where it seems like a little bit of both things are going on. 

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

When Jesus asks them if they have ever read what David did this would be considered a direct affront to them.  They were the experts on the Torah often seeking to completely memorize it.  They would certainly know every detail of David’s life.  Then when he heals on the Sabbath in front of them He also questions the very nature of the law itself.  The gospels are filled with things like this where Jesus is teaching us truth but also slowly marching toward His ultimate goal of dying to save us.  Today take some time to reflect on this double mission of Jesus and thank Him for fulfilling both of them. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave