Jesus continued on through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry so they began to pick some heads of grain to eat. The Pharisees approach Jesus to make sure He knew that what His disciples were doing on the Sabbath was unlawful. (This was considered work)
Jesus answered them by reminding them of a time when their forefather David and his companions ate of the consecrated bread because they were hungry…which is also unlawful. He then says something greater than the temple is here and He quotes from Hosea as He proclaims that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath:
“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
Hosea 6:6
As they left the grain fields He entered their synagogue where the Pharisees tried to catch Him in sin. There was a man with a shriveled hand, and they asked Him if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath.
He responded by saying if any of them had a sheep to fall into a pit they would lift it out. He says it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
Jesus then had the man stretch out his shriveled hand and Jesus restored it. The Pharisees went out from there, however, plotting how they might kill Jesus.
We can get so caught up in the legalism and tradition that we end up failing to see the power of God at work. When we are so focused on the checklist, we miss the divine. God wants us to be obedient…but Jesus makes it known that He is greater than law and tradition. He says to love God and love others. How much of the power of God have we missed out on because we were too caught up in tradition? Let God rule your heart today.
A Journey With Jesus 