So, Jesus arrives at the synagogue. According to Matthew, the pharisees, pointing out a man in need of healing, poses a question to Jesus, "Is it lawful to heal a man on the Sabbath." Now they are trying to force His hand. They thought they had Jesus between a rock & a hard place. However, as usual, Jesus presents common sense to the men.
Have you noticed this yet? The religious leaders are constantly asking Jesus very philosophically profound questions. He always answers these thought provoking questions with some pretty straightforward questions or statements. See, they are so use to pondering these HUGE questions that they have left their common sense behind. Maybe this is what got them so off track in the first place. Philosophy comes from a man's thoughts & pondering. Philosophy is self-centered. Common sense comes from a relationship. Common sense is other-centered. Do you know the heart of God or do you simply ponder His Words? Jesus knew His heart, the pharisees simply pondered His Word.
Therefore, Jesus was able to easily answer the pharisees. Basically he said, "You wouldn't let your sheep - an animal - suffer of the Sabbath, why would you let this man - a fellow human being - suffer on the Sabbath?"
Yesterday I provided a quote on some Jewish laws, but I would like to share another selection from the same article today,
"Every Jew is not just permitted to break Shabbat rules if harm will arise as a result of not doing so, but expected to. Thus, a Jew would be allowed to use a car to take an injured person to hospital despite the law against driving as human life and well being is considered to always take precedence against all other laws. Similarly, if a Jew has neglected to light a fire prior to Shabbat but it unexpectedly becomes cold and somebody within the home may suffer ill as a result - ie; children, the inform, the elderly - then he or she is both permitted and expected to light a fire."
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Jewish_law_concerning_th_sabbath_day#ixzz22UImHSEG
Common sense says: the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Life and health are more important. Jesus showed this to the Jews who had lost sight of the big picture. Unfortunately, many didn't see the light, instead they continued to turn their hearts against Jesus.
So, we come down to our question of the day: Do you know the heart of God or do you simply ponder His Words? Maybe today you can ask Him His opinion of the Scripture you have been pondering? You might be amazed at what He has to say.
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