Scripture to Read: Luke 6:6–7
God shows us very clearly in Exodus 23:12 and Deuteronomy 5:14 that He gave the Sabbath to mankind so that they and their animals may get some rest and refresh themselves. God never designed the Sabbath to be a heavy burden on people, but that is exactly what the Sabbath had become to the Jewish people. It was a burden because the religious leaders simply made people follow the rules they had added to God’s Law. That is why God had Luke record this in Luke 6:6–7, “On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him.” The scribes and the Pharisees did nothing more than keep a close eye on Jesus, hoping to catch Him doing something against God’s Law on a Sabbath day. Since we know why God gave the Sabbath, we can see how ridiculous the actions of the scribes and the Pharisees were. God even tells us in Colossians 2:16–17, “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” This means that Christ is who was foreshadowed, that He is our reality. The scribes and the Pharisees missed reality and settled for the mere shadow.
Challenge & Application
Why did the scribes and the Pharisees miss reality and settle for the mere shadow? (See Ephesians 2:1–3 for help.)
How do we guard against settling for the mere shadow of what’s to come and live fully, knowing that Christ is our reality and hope?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!