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Who has authority to interpret The Law
Mat 12: Jesus and His Disciples are passing some Barley Fields with ripening grains.
“12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.”
The Pharisees took note and stated this was “not lawful to do on the Sabbath Days.” What law was being broken according to The Pharisees? This is a very important question…! The ripening of the barley sets the time for the beginning of the year and when The Passover Festival is observed.
The Pharisees were at odds with The Sadducees about when the Barley could be harvested. (I won’t get into the counting problem here, but we will note this situation deals with control of The Harvests and The Holy Feast Sabbaths. The basic question is, ‘Who has authority to interpret The Law?’
“3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?”
Jesus gives 4 points in answer to The Pharisees accusation. First, Jesus refers to David doing what was not lawful to do, and God did not bring an accusation against him. Then Jesus refers to The Priests working in The Temple every Sabbath but God accepts their activities without blame. Third, Jesus refers to “One greater than The Temple,” (being Himself.) We might consider the Pharisees’ brains are on overload by this time. They do not catch this key statement about Jesus referring to Himself as The Greater Temple of God…. Finally He states, He is “The Son of Man,” Who is “Lord of The Sabbath Day.”
“5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”
Towards the end of this statement, Jesus includes a quote from Hosea 6:6, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice….” And He declares mercy is what God allows and His disciples are “guiltless.”
This was evidently one year before Jesus would offer Himself as The Truly Perfect Passover Lamb. After which, all the Priestly activities in The Temple on The Sabbath Festivals would change forever…. But for that Passover and the next one, Jesus and His Disciples would continue to observe The Law of Moses. Jesus and His Disciples did not break The Sabbath Law….
2 Other Conflicts in Jesus’ Ministry
A. Jesus drove out those who sold sacrifice animals. The Jewish Authorities were making large profits from selling inspected sacrificial animals. These were set-
B. Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a young donkey, just before He was put to death. His entrance was well received by The People, but they were expecting a Victorious King not a humble sacrifice. The People quickly turned their backs away from Jesus. When The People saw Jesus captured by Rome and then beaten, they rejected His ministry and Jesus was sent to His sacrificial death….