1 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:06,000 Christ is risen. I don't think we should say that 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,500 once a year. He is risen, he is alive. 3 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:11,500 He is our Lord and he is coming soon. 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,900 If you have the Living Word in your hands, would you meet me in 5 00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:19,500 the Gospel According to Mark and chapter 2? 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:29,400 Beginning in verse 23? And our brother prayed but we'll 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:31,500 pray. Again, as we have God's word 8 00:00:31,500 --> 00:00:35,600 before us opened and ask him to help us as we seek to understand 9 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,000 his word as will do. We thank you that you have been 10 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,800 with us up to this point in the gospel of Mark and Lord You Have 11 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,700 Not failed to show us the glory that is in your son and Lord. 12 00:00:47,700 --> 00:00:52,500 As we approach this text, we pray that your Holy Spirit would 13 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:56,100 help us. See the beauty and Jesus again. 14 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:01,600 And Lord we pray that as he is magnified that our hearts would 15 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,500 also be magnified and love for him. 16 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,000 And the Lord, he would receive greater worship. 17 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,700 Greater devotion greater adoration as we realize that he 18 00:01:10,700 --> 00:01:14,200 is our substitute. He stood in our place, his 19 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,300 righteousness is ours and we belong to him. 20 00:01:17,500 --> 00:01:20,900 We give you glory and thanks for this word in advance in Jesus 21 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:22,600 name we pray. Amen. 22 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,900 Mark 223. One Sabbath. 23 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:32,700 He was going through the grain Fields And as they made their 24 00:01:32,700 --> 00:01:37,700 way, his disciples began to pluck, heads of grain, and the 25 00:01:37,700 --> 00:01:42,000 Pharisees were saying to him. Look, why are they doing? 26 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,300 What is not lawful on the Sabbath? 27 00:01:45,300 --> 00:01:50,000 And he said to them, have you never read what David did when 28 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,300 he was in need and was hungry? He and those who are with him, 29 00:01:53,900 --> 00:01:57,100 how he entered the house of God and the time of a be a thar, the 30 00:01:57,100 --> 00:02:01,300 high priest and ate the bread of the presence which is not lawful 31 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:04,300 for any, but the priests to eat and also gave it to those who 32 00:02:04,300 --> 00:02:08,900 are with him. And he said to them, the Sabbath 33 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:14,600 was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 34 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,900 So the son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath. 35 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,300 A careful reading of the gospels will show that one of the major 36 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:28,200 controversies that centered around the person of Jesus 37 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:35,400 Christ, was his behavior on a particular day of the week that 38 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,300 day of the week may not have much relevance to us Gentiles 39 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:43,700 but it is a day of the week that was and still is a trademark for 40 00:02:43,700 --> 00:02:48,300 the Jewish people that day. As you heard many times just in 41 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:50,800 our reading is known as the Sabbath. 42 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,800 Which in the Hebrew simply means to rest, or to cease, it was on 43 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,900 the Sabbath which defines Friday Sunset to Saturday sunset. 44 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,600 According to Jewish law, that some of the most memorable 45 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:09,900 miracles of Jesus took place. But it was also on that same day 46 00:03:09,900 --> 00:03:14,100 that the ever-present Pharisees manifested, the depths of the 47 00:03:14,100 --> 00:03:18,700 cruelty and coldness of their heart, especially as it 48 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:22,300 contrasted to the warm compassion of Jesus Christ 49 00:03:22,300 --> 00:03:25,600 toward people. It's so strange to think how a 50 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,800 day that was divinely ordained by God. 51 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:36,300 To cause reverential meditation and refreshment from work made 52 00:03:36,300 --> 00:03:41,300 these Pharisees. So intensely vexed and 53 00:03:41,300 --> 00:03:44,700 frustrated. And it is in this teaching that 54 00:03:44,700 --> 00:03:48,800 you will see why. Why was it that these Pharisees 55 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:54,200 were so caught up and responding to something that was wholly and 56 00:03:54,200 --> 00:04:00,100 for the good of man. But instead became a burden, And 57 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:04,000 something to be dreaded. And it's going to be a lesson 58 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,400 for you and I to understand that we can take God's word and 59 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:11,200 misapply it we can take God's word and reinvent the purpose of 60 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,800 it, and bring harm to ourselves and to others. 61 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,000 But more than that, it is the activity of Jesus on the Sabbath 62 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,399 that will bring even greater support to his nature and 63 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:24,000 character. It was on the Sabbath that the 64 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,700 Pharisees wanted to flex their empty religion, their 65 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:31,000 performance of piety, but it was also on the Sabbath and many 66 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:32,700 occasions that Jesus proved that. 67 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,800 He was who he said he was God In the Flesh. 68 00:04:36,300 --> 00:04:39,200 And as you as you behold, that this afternoon mate, pull on 69 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,200 your heart to worship and adore him to a greater degree. 70 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,300 But on this particular Sabbath that we just read the critical 71 00:04:46,300 --> 00:04:50,100 Pharisees vocalize, their unjustified concerns, not 72 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:51,900 because Jesus performed a miracle. 73 00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:55,700 In fact, Jesus wasn't the direct object of their scorn. 74 00:04:56,500 --> 00:04:58,700 It was his disciples and what they did. 75 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,400 And these disciples just ate some grain. 76 00:05:03,300 --> 00:05:06,200 But that was significant to the Pharisees. 77 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,300 These pseudo spiritual spies were flustered by the sight of 78 00:05:10,300 --> 00:05:15,000 these men snacking on some grain as they walked along a path. 79 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,200 And here's what you and I are going to do this afternoon. 80 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,300 The same way that these disciples walked by specific 81 00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:23,200 path in order to nourish themselves by receiving, some 82 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,600 kind of Strength from these little nuggets. 83 00:05:27,300 --> 00:05:30,200 You and I also as we glean through this passage are going 84 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,500 to pluck. Some truths from these verses 85 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:36,800 and receive nourishment for our souls. 86 00:05:37,700 --> 00:05:41,400 What do we see here in verse 23? Jesus was making his way to a 87 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,400 certain destination and we are told that his disciples 88 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,300 accompany them and as they accompanied him they were just 89 00:05:47,300 --> 00:05:51,300 pulling some grain as they pass by some fields. 90 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:55,700 And Matthew is more specific with this exact scene by telling 91 00:05:55,700 --> 00:05:58,400 us that they were hungry, so they pluck the grain, so that 92 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,200 they could eat, and I cannot help. 93 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,500 But even at this point, draw a simple principle that will 94 00:06:03,500 --> 00:06:06,500 hopefully help you. And I, as we commit ourselves to 95 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:10,400 following Jesus, these Apostles and training as they trailed 96 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:15,100 behind their Rabbi show us that living for the Lord. 97 00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:20,400 Jesus, serving his purposes and his cause does not guarantee 98 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:25,200 luxury, or Interrupted physical convenience. 99 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,300 These disciples not too long ago. 100 00:06:29,300 --> 00:06:36,400 Were feasting, Matthew's house enjoying a banquet, just a few 101 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:42,000 short hours later, few days. Perhaps here, they are taking 102 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,700 some kernels, rubbing it in their hands and trying to make 103 00:06:44,700 --> 00:06:49,800 the most out of it. When we follow the lord, we have 104 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:54,300 to understand that it is not always convenient to our flesh. 105 00:06:55,100 --> 00:06:57,200 Does not guarantee that everything will be brought 106 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,900 before us on a silver platter. And that we will have no 107 00:06:59,900 --> 00:07:03,500 discomfort or no test or no concern. 108 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,000 At least immediately. What I see here with these 109 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,200 disciples is a perfect example of quiet. 110 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,000 Contentment in Jesus Christ. No complaints. 111 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:17,600 No squeaks no squeals here they are walking along with Jesus and 112 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,300 just enjoying what has been provided for them in the 113 00:07:20,300 --> 00:07:23,900 natural. And there are some days where we 114 00:07:23,900 --> 00:07:26,300 will know feasts and there's some days where we will know 115 00:07:26,300 --> 00:07:30,500 some fast and Fast that we did not intend to explore willingly. 116 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,900 But look at these disciples. I love the fact that there is 117 00:07:33,900 --> 00:07:36,400 silence on their part. There are no complaints from 118 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,600 them because their rations look, much more different than it was 119 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,000 just a few days ago. The celebration that they 120 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,200 enjoyed a Matthews home and here's how I take it as long as 121 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:51,200 crisis with us, it doesn't matter what is before us, as 122 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:53,800 long as Christ is our portion, it is a matter. 123 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,100 What kind of portion we have in the natural, any portion is a 124 00:07:57,100 --> 00:08:02,200 full portion when Christ is our true portion, And so there's 125 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,000 such a plainness about this scene here. 126 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:09,200 They are just gazing and grazing while they walk in the shadow of 127 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,800 their Savior. And the Simplicity is so 128 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,300 beautiful. Because what we look here and 129 00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:18,800 see is that the Lord and following him does not mean that 130 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:24,600 we will experience a series of Supernatural events continually. 131 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,600 Be encouraged that the same way the Lord was in the presence of 132 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,400 his disciples in the grain Fields. 133 00:08:30,700 --> 00:08:34,200 So is he with you? And I, when we are going through 134 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:40,500 seasons of what may be ordinary or mundane, You see, Jesus knew 135 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:43,000 that his servants were hungry. He can see it. 136 00:08:43,299 --> 00:08:45,700 Despite the fact he was a mission, he could see it. 137 00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:48,700 And Jesus doesn't take it upon himself to perform some kind of 138 00:08:48,708 --> 00:08:53,800 a miracle instead. He allows his followers. to 139 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,700 pluck some grain to silence their grumbling bellies, and he 140 00:08:57,700 --> 00:09:01,300 was just as present with them, then as he would be, when he 141 00:09:01,300 --> 00:09:06,700 would feed the 5,000, And so Christ is with us. 142 00:09:06,900 --> 00:09:12,200 If I can use this word in are snacking, just as much as in our 143 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:19,300 serving, That his watchful eye is strong, even what seems to be 144 00:09:19,300 --> 00:09:25,100 normal routine mundane just as much as it would be when we see 145 00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:29,000 him do miracles in our lives. And may we not Reserve our 146 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,500 praise to him. Only when we are promoted in an 147 00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:36,700 unusual way or only, when we seem to have this Supernatural 148 00:09:36,700 --> 00:09:42,400 opportunity, open for us in our favor because his grace spreads 149 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:47,400 out And extends far beyond the undeniable interventions that he 150 00:09:47,500 --> 00:09:51,500 provides for us. See what these disciples are 151 00:09:51,500 --> 00:09:53,300 doing is what any ordinary Jew would do. 152 00:09:53,300 --> 00:09:56,500 It was a common practice but even though this this is 153 00:09:56,500 --> 00:09:59,800 something that we would dismiss as just going to the gas station 154 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,000 to pick up a little thing because you're hungry and your 155 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:03,500 commute was a little longer than you. 156 00:10:03,500 --> 00:10:08,000 Thought it was. These disciples are experiencing 157 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:12,100 in our recipients of the goodness of God, even in the 158 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:15,400 plucking of the grain. Just feeling the baskets after a 159 00:10:15,408 --> 00:10:19,300 miraculous provision of just a few pieces of bread and fish 160 00:10:19,300 --> 00:10:21,700 into feeding the multitudes even in that. 161 00:10:22,700 --> 00:10:27,000 And the reason is because what these men are doing was only 162 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,500 possible because God made it possible. 163 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,900 He actually made it law. He actually codified it through 164 00:10:32,900 --> 00:10:35,100 Moses. So you're going to have to hear 165 00:10:35,100 --> 00:10:38,400 this verse and understand that understanding, this verse helps 166 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:42,600 us see and understand the rest of the text in Deuteronomy 23. 167 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:48,500 25 God gave instructions to the Israelites and he said an 168 00:10:48,500 --> 00:10:52,500 interesting thing in this verse. If you go into your neighbor's 169 00:10:52,700 --> 00:10:57,700 standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you 170 00:10:57,700 --> 00:11:00,800 shall not put a sickle to your neighbor standing grain. 171 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:05,300 So he actually created a law that these men were fulfilling, 172 00:11:05,300 --> 00:11:08,900 their, they were walking in faithfully and this was just one 173 00:11:08,900 --> 00:11:13,700 facet of The welfare system in Israel, not a system that makes 174 00:11:13,700 --> 00:11:17,700 you lazy, but one, that gives means to strengthen the Hungry 175 00:11:17,700 --> 00:11:21,800 Traveler while at the same time, not significantly, stripping 176 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,000 somebody's hard-earned Prophet away from them. 177 00:11:26,500 --> 00:11:28,700 And though no law exists like this for you. 178 00:11:28,700 --> 00:11:33,100 And I in the New Covenant does not this verse show us and give 179 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:38,100 us a glimpse of the mindfulness of God for you and me that he 180 00:11:38,100 --> 00:11:42,000 actually cares about going from point A to point B and making 181 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:46,400 sure that your belly is full. And so he creates this law that 182 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:51,300 is fair and just and it shows his love for the Israelites just 183 00:11:51,300 --> 00:11:56,100 as much as when he rained Manna From Heaven for 40 years, a 184 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:00,700 Miracle Day by Day. His love is just a strong in 185 00:12:00,700 --> 00:12:02,800 this lies. It was in the miracle. 186 00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:05,800 And what am I trying to propose to you? 187 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,300 And I met we loved him in the natural not just in the 188 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:11,600 Supernatural. May we praise him and credit him 189 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,100 for his goodness. And what seems to be something 190 00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:17,100 that his fingerprints are not on when? 191 00:12:17,100 --> 00:12:20,000 In fact he is the supplier of all our good. 192 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,300 He is the permitter of all the things that we enjoy. 193 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:29,500 And so I am refreshed by this visual of Jesus. 194 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:31,700 Walking I don't know how it looked was at one line where 195 00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:36,500 they spread a across the field, there's Jesus walking in his 196 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:39,300 disciples plucking and maybe one disciple is trying to jokingly. 197 00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:42,400 Take the grain out of the other hand of another disciple. 198 00:12:43,900 --> 00:12:47,000 But something happens because what's so beautiful in this 199 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,200 scene, what showcases, the goodness of God and even 200 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:54,100 encourages us to know, silent satisfaction, as we follow 201 00:12:54,100 --> 00:12:57,000 Jesus. No matter what's in our hand was 202 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,500 something that was totally different in the sight of these 203 00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:04,000 Pharisees. A sharp accusation arose in 204 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,200 those fields, I don't know where they were, I don't know, they 205 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,400 were in the field spying, it's pretty pathetic sight, but this 206 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,000 group of religious Elite thought that they found something that 207 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,600 would disqualify The credibility of Jesus closest students. 208 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:21,900 And so they say, look Why are they doing? 209 00:13:21,900 --> 00:13:23,900 What is not lawful on the Sabbath? 210 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,600 Well, you and I just heard it in Deuteronomy, what they are 211 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,100 doing, is lawful it was permitted. 212 00:13:29,100 --> 00:13:32,900 It was granted there was a green light but their issue is not so 213 00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:36,800 much of the plucking and the eating per se, as much as it was 214 00:13:36,900 --> 00:13:39,700 that they were doing this on the Sabbath. 215 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:45,900 Were they right? Where the disciples breaking the 216 00:13:45,900 --> 00:13:50,100 law, were they working on a day that was calling for rest. 217 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:57,300 The short answer. No. no, you and I should be 218 00:13:57,300 --> 00:14:00,200 acquainted with the Pharisees enough to understand that they 219 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:06,100 were Masters and notorious for taking man-made tradition and 220 00:14:06,100 --> 00:14:10,300 elevating it to the degree that it would eclipse the Simplicity 221 00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:14,900 and the clarity of God's word and if this is saying anything 222 00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:20,500 it is showing how their tradition mangled it absolutely 223 00:14:20,500 --> 00:14:24,200 tampered with something as holy as the Sabbath until it became 224 00:14:24,900 --> 00:14:30,200 Unrecognizable until it lost all its life, giving value until it 225 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,900 was Martin to something that was hideous, instead of something 226 00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:36,400 that was wholly legalism tends to do that. 227 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,200 You see if there is something that these Pharisees were doing 228 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,800 on the Sabbath is that they utilized it as a weekly platform 229 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:51,000 to pump their pride. and so week after week, these men would not 230 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:55,100 only impose their regulations and their rituals that were out 231 00:14:55,100 --> 00:14:58,300 of bounds of the Bible, but they would, they would use this time 232 00:14:58,300 --> 00:15:04,600 to also police the population and too Criticize and to point 233 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:08,300 out that to disqualify, men standing with God based on the 234 00:15:08,300 --> 00:15:11,500 fact that they are not adhering to their own rules. 235 00:15:12,300 --> 00:15:15,400 And so you can imagine how this day was generally dreaded by the 236 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:19,000 Israelite, we don't want the Sabbath to come because outcome 237 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:23,300 the Cockroaches here, come the Pharisees sniffing and looking. 238 00:15:23,300 --> 00:15:25,600 And we see us a snippet of it even here. 239 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,700 I mean here's Jesus traveling with his disciples and up come 240 00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:31,500 to these Pharisees popping their head out of the grains and say 241 00:15:31,500 --> 00:15:34,500 ha ha, ha look! Look what Doing write it down. 242 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,000 and instead of it being a day of rest for God's people, under the 243 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:43,500 old Covenant, it was a day of unrealistic expectations in the 244 00:15:43,500 --> 00:15:46,800 name of righteousness quotation marks. 245 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,600 This is a sad thing. All these rules, all these 246 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:57,400 ideas, conjured up by men, who think they are Pious? 247 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,100 Do we have a glimpse? Do we have any idea of what kind 248 00:16:00,100 --> 00:16:04,600 of these rules look like? Yes, we do the mishnah, which is 249 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,000 really just a historical book of a collection of the Jewish oral 250 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,300 Traditions. Shows us actually. 251 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,200 Just some of the rules that were implemented on this day. 252 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,400 The mission is not a Divine book, it's a historical book and 253 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,800 they have a Sure on the Sabbath and it is through that that we 254 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,300 can see what it was that the Pharisees were trying to 255 00:16:24,300 --> 00:16:28,500 implement so strongly. So on that list, there are 39 256 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:32,400 works that were prohibited forbidden that would violate 257 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,600 their idea of the Sabbath. And there are some things there 258 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:40,900 that were obvious types of Labor like hunting or plowing. 259 00:16:41,500 --> 00:16:44,000 But then, as you read on, you realize that the category of 260 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,100 work included hard to believe practices. 261 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:52,100 For example, a legal work. Would constitute writing more 262 00:16:52,100 --> 00:16:56,600 than one letter on a page? Or God forbid, you are race to 263 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:01,500 letters. It would mean tying a knot, 264 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:05,500 untying a knot sewing more than one stitch. 265 00:17:06,900 --> 00:17:11,700 Cleaning clothes walking a certain amount of steps. 266 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:18,500 And other paralyzing practices. So with that in view, it's no 267 00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:21,599 wonder that the Pharisees were shaken by the sight of the fact 268 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,700 that these disciples were plucking grain because it's 269 00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:28,099 highly possible that in this one scene alone, what they estimated 270 00:17:28,099 --> 00:17:31,400 was that these disciples were breaking the law because they 271 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:36,300 were traveling too far. And they were working. 272 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:41,500 Yes, this is work. According to the Pharisees, the 273 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:44,600 plucking, the removing of the shell, the blowing of the chaff, 274 00:17:44,700 --> 00:17:48,400 equated harvesting and threshing. 275 00:17:48,900 --> 00:17:54,100 And when towing, And so they said you're working. 276 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:56,900 You're working sounds ridiculous. 277 00:17:56,900 --> 00:18:01,400 There's a not may I propose to you that in this day today The 278 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,600 Same Spirit is at work and many Ministries. 279 00:18:06,300 --> 00:18:10,900 That might be foreign to you. But just just look out into the 280 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:13,900 Horizon stay in this thing long enough. 281 00:18:14,700 --> 00:18:17,700 Open your networks and Converse with others who are part of 282 00:18:17,700 --> 00:18:20,300 different denominations or different network of churches. 283 00:18:20,300 --> 00:18:23,800 And what you'll realize is, there are some Churches who have 284 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,700 required specific measurements of clothing. 285 00:18:27,900 --> 00:18:31,700 Not not modesty. I mean here comes the ruler and 286 00:18:31,700 --> 00:18:33,500 let's see how long the sleeve is. 287 00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:37,000 Let's see how far down the dress goes. 288 00:18:37,500 --> 00:18:38,800 The same. People will condemn the 289 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:43,100 application of Cosmetics on a woman's face or on a woman's 290 00:18:43,100 --> 00:18:49,900 body who demand limited technology and each family's 291 00:18:49,900 --> 00:18:56,100 home. And who exalt these rules, which 292 00:18:56,100 --> 00:18:59,900 have zero benefits to True sanctification. 293 00:19:02,300 --> 00:19:04,700 And the sad part is people eat this stuff up. 294 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:08,500 It's attractive to some to some the Temptation is lawlessness. 295 00:19:08,500 --> 00:19:11,800 I believe that's the greater issue with American Christianity 296 00:19:12,100 --> 00:19:13,800 but to others. It is legalism. 297 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,200 And what you have is people who live their life in this way. 298 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,400 And who adopt these strict observance has to these rigid 299 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,200 rituals because they think this is what pleases God. 300 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,200 This is what puts a smile on his face. 301 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:31,900 Would you like to know how the Holy Spirit saw these Pharisees? 302 00:19:31,900 --> 00:19:34,000 Would you like to know what he perceived would you like to know 303 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,600 what concerns him? The same Pharisees, who seemed 304 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:41,000 so disciplined, who seems so devoted to the cause of God. 305 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:45,200 On one of the teachings of Jesus were the Pharisees were in 306 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,500 attendance. He taught about money and the 307 00:19:48,508 --> 00:19:50,700 holy spirit. Gives us a commentary on 308 00:19:50,700 --> 00:19:52,500 something hidden. Apart from this, we would not 309 00:19:52,500 --> 00:19:54,800 have known, we would have probably assumed but the Holy 310 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:59,800 Spirit exposes the same men who ran around bullying people with 311 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:03,000 their standards. Turn with me to Luke chapter 16 312 00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:05,100 and look at this short verse with me. 313 00:20:12,900 --> 00:20:19,700 In Luke 16, 14 to 15. We are told. 314 00:20:22,900 --> 00:20:28,400 The Pharisees. Who were lovers of money. 315 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,800 Heard all these things and they ridiculed him and he said to 316 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:38,200 them, you are those who justify yourselves before men but God 317 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:42,100 knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men? 318 00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:44,400 Is an abomination in the sight of God. 319 00:20:45,700 --> 00:20:49,900 Beneath the rituals, under the holy garments, in quotation 320 00:20:49,900 --> 00:20:53,900 marks, the public prayers, the constant fasting the nagging 321 00:20:53,900 --> 00:20:59,000 criticism and the fault-finding, and the name of Holiness was a 322 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:03,900 burning infatuation. For money. 323 00:21:05,100 --> 00:21:07,300 The god that most people worship today. 324 00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:10,800 These Pharisees might have been able to fool others and they 325 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,400 might have thought and believed that they were fooling God. 326 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,700 But this verse proves listen to me this afternoon, my people, my 327 00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:24,800 brethren my sisters, my fellow followers of Christ, What this 328 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,600 proves is that the Lord looks past our daily and weekly 329 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:32,600 performances and the only thing he considers, as what lives and 330 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:40,000 the deepest chambers of your heart and mind. what a scathing 331 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:45,600 statement Jesus makes For what is exalted among men is an 332 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:48,300 abomination in the sight of God, can you imagine? 333 00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:50,400 He's speaking about their empty religion. 334 00:21:50,500 --> 00:21:53,500 This might not Shock you until you do a comprehensive study in 335 00:21:53,500 --> 00:21:55,800 the word of God, to see what is under the category of 336 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:59,300 abomination, like pervert, sexual practices. 337 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,600 And yet there is a high spot for NT religion, under that 338 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,100 condemning category. And imagine imagine doing all 339 00:22:07,100 --> 00:22:11,000 these things for the sake of people, seeing how spiritual you 340 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,900 are. And God sees it as a Abstention 341 00:22:14,900 --> 00:22:21,400 smell. I cannot help but move past this 342 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,500 text without considering the thought. 343 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:29,500 Not just not just for those who might be fair, say achill. 344 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:35,000 Who have magnified tradition, a magnified outward behavior, and 345 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,700 not what God puts weightier emphasis on. 346 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,200 But even for us, in our performances, in our service to 347 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:46,500 God, what does it matter? What benefit is that? 348 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:49,700 If there's no spirit-inspired pulse behind it? 349 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,400 God forbid that we would go through the mechanics of 350 00:22:54,400 --> 00:23:01,100 Christianity with hollowness with emptiness with no 351 00:23:01,100 --> 00:23:04,800 connection to this pleasing. My Lord from a position of being 352 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:06,800 saved by his grace. Yes. 353 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:10,100 And I can't help. But look at this verse. 354 00:23:10,100 --> 00:23:13,300 And this is what came to mind. When reading it, O Lord, you saw 355 00:23:13,300 --> 00:23:18,600 their hearts, you saw their loves, you didn't see the length 356 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:20,600 of their beards and their garments. 357 00:23:20,700 --> 00:23:22,600 You didn't see the length of the prayers. 358 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:24,700 You didn't see the length of their fasting. 359 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:29,300 You saw what they loved and this is what you look for. 360 00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:32,500 Oh God, were to come into your heart. 361 00:23:34,100 --> 00:23:38,300 And pull it out in the open. What kind of love? 362 00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:42,900 Would he find there? What would he see in that heart? 363 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:50,200 What would he discover Pastor all the practices and all the 364 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,500 performance of God were to come just to see the pulse of your 365 00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:56,400 heart? What would he see? 366 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:05,200 Is there a love for him? Are we just empty performers? 367 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,700 Convincing ourselves and others that we're okay. 368 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:13,800 Everything is fine. What do our affections beat for? 369 00:24:14,500 --> 00:24:16,800 What? Directions are a heart set 370 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,300 toward who is it? That we are the most captivated 371 00:24:20,300 --> 00:24:24,200 by and who is it that we are the most fearful of disappointing in 372 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:27,800 grieving oh what'd he see the reflection of his own face when 373 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:32,600 he pulls out that heart And looks at it to see what kind of 374 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:36,800 loves we have in this life. It may he by his grace keep that 375 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:42,200 love alive for him until this heart is transformed in the 376 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:46,000 resurrection, only by his grace, able to perfectly love him for 377 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:50,500 all of eternity. And so we come back to our tax 378 00:24:50,500 --> 00:24:54,600 and Mark 2. To see, Jesus answer to the 379 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,100 allegation made by the Pharisees, and he would do. 380 00:24:57,100 --> 00:25:01,100 So by masterfully, referencing a scripture, you want to deal with 381 00:25:01,100 --> 00:25:04,400 legalistic people, go to the Bible, you want to deal with 382 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:08,700 people who love tradition, go to the Bible and we read it, but we 383 00:25:08,700 --> 00:25:12,300 can read it again and verse 25 and he said to them have you 384 00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:15,300 never read what David did when he was in need and was hungry? 385 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,300 He and those who are with them, how he entered the house of God, 386 00:25:18,300 --> 00:25:21,300 and the time of a be a star, the high priests and ate the bread 387 00:25:21,300 --> 00:25:24,000 of the presence. She is not lawful for any but 388 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,200 the priests to eat and also gave it to those who are with him. 389 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,300 It's a very simple story. If you were with us on Fridays, 390 00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:32,500 we cover this in first Samuel, we're in second Samuel. 391 00:25:32,500 --> 00:25:38,200 Now it's a story of David who had to flee his home, his work, 392 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:42,100 his family because of a sudden Exile, because salt turned on 393 00:25:42,100 --> 00:25:44,800 him and was ready to kill him and because he had no time to 394 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,600 prepare, he comes to the house of God and he handed. 395 00:25:47,900 --> 00:25:50,700 And he seeks something to eat because he is hungry him. 396 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:54,100 And his men who accompanied him And so he asked the priest if 397 00:25:54,100 --> 00:25:56,500 there's anything for him and the priest said, there's nothing 398 00:25:56,500 --> 00:26:00,300 here but the holy bread the holy bread was something designated 399 00:26:00,300 --> 00:26:04,200 for the priest alone to eat. It was to be there on the table 400 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,700 of showbread and once they would recycle the bread with fresh hot 401 00:26:07,700 --> 00:26:10,100 bread every week, they would eat the old bread. 402 00:26:10,100 --> 00:26:13,800 That's what David was looking for and it was granted to him. 403 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:19,100 Now, that's simple story, may seem straightforward. 404 00:26:19,100 --> 00:26:23,000 But the question is, why is Jesus alluding to it out of all 405 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,800 the things, why this story and let me give you what? 406 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,700 Perhaps you grew up, understanding it to mean, if you 407 00:26:29,700 --> 00:26:32,600 grew up in the church, let me give you the most popular 408 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:35,700 interpretation. It seems that people think that 409 00:26:35,700 --> 00:26:40,700 Jesus is by pointing to David. Providing an illustration to 410 00:26:40,700 --> 00:26:47,200 promote A principle of Mercy. Meaning what after the Pharisees 411 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,600 can, then the disciples. The Lord points to David to 412 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:55,700 teach that under certain circumstances God is willing for 413 00:26:55,700 --> 00:27:01,400 ceremonial laws for rules to be set aside for the sake of 414 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,100 meeting. A human need, it's a lesson on 415 00:27:04,100 --> 00:27:08,000 compassion. The idea here is that observing 416 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,100 regulations is not more important than providing 417 00:27:11,100 --> 00:27:13,600 assistance in emergency situations. 418 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:19,800 Like David was in Even if our help means that we need to bend 419 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:24,200 the commands of God a little bit, then let's bring it about. 420 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,700 So you can imagine how a text like this is often referred to 421 00:27:28,700 --> 00:27:35,300 to support the notion of situational ethics All that 422 00:27:35,300 --> 00:27:37,800 means is that under unique situations, it would be 423 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:40,800 acceptable to commit. If we're honest, what would be 424 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:44,500 known as a sin in order to promote a greater good. 425 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:47,900 So that's what Jesus is teaching. 426 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,600 Look, David did what was wrong. He wasn't punished for it 427 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,800 because there was a need. So why are you Pharisees getting 428 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,300 all flustered? When the disciples here are just 429 00:27:57,300 --> 00:27:59,700 doing the same thing, they're eating, okay? 430 00:27:59,700 --> 00:28:03,500 If it confuses, what it means to be, not working on the Sabbath. 431 00:28:03,500 --> 00:28:07,600 What's the big deal? Personally, I do not believe 432 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:12,800 that's what Jesus teaching. And I may have stepped on some 433 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,300 toes, but would you bear with me? 434 00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:19,400 Because I've heard this from many people myself and as I 435 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:21,300 looked further into it, I realized that perhaps that is 436 00:28:21,308 --> 00:28:24,500 not Jesus main point. Maybe that's not even his point 437 00:28:24,500 --> 00:28:29,500 at all. Because this would make sense, 438 00:28:30,900 --> 00:28:36,200 this message would fit if the disciples actually broke the 439 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:40,600 law. But they didn't, they were 440 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:44,300 Guiltless. But look how Jesus speaks about 441 00:28:44,300 --> 00:28:48,000 David in verse 26, how he entered the house of God in the 442 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:51,100 time of a Bea, Arthur the high priest and ate the bread of the 443 00:28:51,100 --> 00:28:57,500 presence, which is not lawful for any, but the priest to eat 444 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:02,900 So what David did was a clear violation of God's law. 445 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:07,100 He did break it. It's undeniable that alone 446 00:29:07,100 --> 00:29:10,800 should cause us to, at least question the popular 447 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:13,300 understanding and interpretation of this passage. 448 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:19,100 Why would Jesus use a guilty man to justify those who are 449 00:29:19,100 --> 00:29:23,500 Guiltless? Definitely not to promote 450 00:29:23,500 --> 00:29:27,200 situational ethics, but I present to you. 451 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,400 The possibility and the strongest understanding that he 452 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:34,200 is calling out the inconsistency of the Pharisees. 453 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:39,900 In other words, think about it this way, as Jesus brings about 454 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:44,600 David, he is not justifying David's trespass. 455 00:29:45,500 --> 00:29:48,600 He is not justifying an idea that God winked at this whole 456 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:50,600 thing and turned back because David was hungry and you know, 457 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:52,900 okay if we have the ignore the law for him to be fed then we'll 458 00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:54,200 do that. That's not what's happening 459 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:55,600 here. This is Jesus. 460 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,800 Using the story of David to Corner the Receives in their 461 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:02,700 hypocrisy. Here's how the argument goes. 462 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:08,900 Are you willing to overlook? What David did and how he broke 463 00:30:08,900 --> 00:30:11,000 the law. While you at the same time are 464 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:14,400 condemning my disciples for breaking your human tradition. 465 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,500 Do you see? It helps to go to Matthews 466 00:30:18,500 --> 00:30:22,400 version to see this expounded. So, go to Matthew chapter 12, 467 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:27,800 and look with me here, And verse 5. 468 00:30:29,700 --> 00:30:32,100 And the verse is proceeding. He says the same thing that he 469 00:30:32,108 --> 00:30:34,900 does here in Mark to he brings up David. 470 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,200 When we come to Matthew 12, he builds on that point and he 471 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:42,200 brings up another example. And so in Matthew 12, 5 notice 472 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:47,000 what Jesus says, Have you not read in the law? 473 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:50,900 How the Sabbath on the Sabbath? The priests in the temple, 474 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:53,500 profane, the Sabbath and are Guiltless. 475 00:30:54,500 --> 00:30:57,800 So what is he saying here? Even the strictest Pharisee 476 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:03,200 wouldn't see the priest guilty. On the Sabbath for performing 477 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:05,900 more work than any other day of the week for killing the 478 00:31:05,900 --> 00:31:07,600 animals. Preparing the sacrifices 479 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:11,200 performing their duties but according to their laws, the 480 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,600 priests should be guilty. The priest should be hey 481 00:31:15,700 --> 00:31:19,000 according to your standards, the priests themselves should be 482 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:23,300 indicted and yet they are quick to come to the disciples and 483 00:31:23,300 --> 00:31:27,800 their modest grain picking and to criticize them and condemned 484 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:31,100 them something that took much less effort and work than what 485 00:31:31,100 --> 00:31:36,600 the priest did on the Sabbath. Now some might protest those who 486 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:38,300 know their Bibles well and know the story. 487 00:31:38,300 --> 00:31:41,200 Well, who might have used this story to justify certain things 488 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:46,400 and so the protest says brother Jesus quotes Hosea and chapter 489 00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:50,200 12 of Matthew verse 7. And what do we see in Matthew 12 490 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:55,200 7 Jesus says and if you had known what this means I desire 491 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:59,200 mercy and not sacrifice. You would not have condemned the 492 00:31:59,208 --> 00:32:03,100 Guiltless. You see God is trying to show us 493 00:32:03,100 --> 00:32:04,700 that. Sometimes the most compassionate 494 00:32:04,700 --> 00:32:08,400 thing to do is to meet a need. Even though we ignore the law, 495 00:32:08,500 --> 00:32:12,800 that my Ender, that Mercy from being extended you see God is 496 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:17,300 promoting Mercy, Mercy. So great that it exceeds above 497 00:32:17,300 --> 00:32:22,200 law, keeping and Rule, observing But is that how Jesus is 498 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:26,200 applying Hosea? Is that is it again? 499 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:27,700 Is that what Jesus is doing here? 500 00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:32,500 Is he trying to make a case for situational ethics? 501 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:35,100 All you have to do is read the verse again in verse 7, very 502 00:32:35,100 --> 00:32:37,700 carefully to see. No, he is not, that's not his 503 00:32:37,700 --> 00:32:40,800 point look again. And if you had known what this 504 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:44,200 means, I desire. Mercy and not sacrifice, you 505 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:46,700 would not have condemned the Guiltless. 506 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:50,600 That's the main point. That's what he's trying to drive 507 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,200 at. You are condemning the 508 00:32:54,200 --> 00:33:00,800 Guiltless. and by quoting Hosea, he's actually exposing how 509 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:06,500 merciless their Traditions are And so he says here. 510 00:33:07,700 --> 00:33:11,200 I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you're condemning the 511 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:12,700 Guiltless. That's how we know the disciples 512 00:33:12,700 --> 00:33:15,800 were Guiltless and you're doing this with your supposed 513 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:19,000 justification. That your, your observance, your 514 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:23,800 strict standards are some kind of a sacrifice to God. 515 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,700 When in fact, they are merciless, you are merciless. 516 00:33:28,900 --> 00:33:37,300 God desires Mercy. but as we heard, Lovelace spiritual 517 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:40,800 sacrifice, especially when it violates and contradicts his 518 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:45,500 word is an abomination. So I understand, let me say this 519 00:33:45,500 --> 00:33:48,300 again. Jesus is using David as an 520 00:33:48,300 --> 00:33:51,800 argument to expose the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who are willing 521 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:54,000 to run around with their traditions and hit people over 522 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:55,900 the head. When they would not dare do that 523 00:33:55,900 --> 00:33:59,800 to the priest who work just as hard if not twice as hard on 524 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:02,100 that day. And David, their beloved hero 525 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:06,500 who actually broke God's law. We pause and say this. 526 00:34:06,500 --> 00:34:08,800 At this point, this is an example for us to remember 527 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,100 something. So crucial and it is to rightly 528 00:34:11,100 --> 00:34:15,400 divide the word of God. To rightly divide the word of 529 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:16,600 God. Lest we be found guilty 530 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,000 promoting legalism like these Pharisees or less. 531 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:23,199 We make the mistake of making some room for lawlessness by 532 00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:26,800 misunderstanding the teachings of Jesus Christ. 533 00:34:28,300 --> 00:34:33,100 And legalism and lawlessness thrive on the same malpractice, 534 00:34:34,199 --> 00:34:36,600 if you want to know how these things grow and how they become 535 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:39,100 strong, and how they make way in people's lives and Ministries, 536 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:41,300 it's actually found in Matthew 12. 537 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:45,199 Jesus into different verses in the same. 538 00:34:45,300 --> 00:34:48,300 Confrontation with these Pharisees says in verse 3 and 539 00:34:48,300 --> 00:34:54,199 verse 5, have you not read Have you not read? 540 00:34:54,300 --> 00:34:55,800 Have you not read? What the law says? 541 00:34:55,900 --> 00:34:57,500 Have you not read? What is this? 542 00:34:58,300 --> 00:35:00,700 This is an accusation of ignorance. 543 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:07,200 You don't know your Bible and if you know about it you have 544 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:12,000 misapplied it and this malpractice is what breeds 545 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:15,100 either legalism or lawlessness in our lives. 546 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:18,700 What is extremely needed? As a careful interaction with 547 00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:22,600 the scriptures less? We open a door for a world of 548 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:25,600 Sorrow to flood the lives of naive people. 549 00:35:28,500 --> 00:35:31,400 And so Jesus here says, have you not read what another scathing 550 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:33,500 statement to Pharisees? Were apparently Experts of the 551 00:35:33,500 --> 00:35:35,300 law. You clearly didn't read you, 552 00:35:35,300 --> 00:35:39,600 clearly didn't see it. Listen much of the division and 553 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,300 are Evangelical circles. Can be solved if we just really 554 00:35:42,300 --> 00:35:48,100 get to the Bible and stick with the Bible, I'm on any extreme on 555 00:35:48,100 --> 00:35:50,300 any doctrine of this is what we should do or this is what we 556 00:35:50,300 --> 00:35:52,300 should or should not do, praise God. 557 00:35:52,300 --> 00:35:56,500 That most of those feuds are secondary issues but I want to 558 00:35:56,500 --> 00:35:58,300 be as close to the truth as possible. 559 00:35:58,900 --> 00:36:02,100 That's what I want. I want every facet of the will 560 00:36:02,100 --> 00:36:05,600 of God to be in line with the truth in my life. 561 00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:08,300 And you want to know how we can solve most of these issues 562 00:36:08,300 --> 00:36:10,400 between Brethren who love Christ. 563 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:13,300 Just to stick with the word. I'm not concerned about your 564 00:36:13,300 --> 00:36:15,800 denominational tradition. I really am not. 565 00:36:16,300 --> 00:36:18,200 I'm not even concerned about what the ancient fathers. 566 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:19,800 Believe they're not my authority. 567 00:36:20,700 --> 00:36:24,600 Have you not read? Have you not read? 568 00:36:25,700 --> 00:36:28,400 Jesus. Is my example in yours? 569 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:32,000 I hope and if you think that the Pharisees were rattled by what 570 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,400 he just said you would be right, I would love to see the sight of 571 00:36:35,408 --> 00:36:39,600 these Eyes offer son becoming silent because Jesus wields, the 572 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:42,500 sword of the spirit. I remember I was on a walk, not 573 00:36:42,500 --> 00:36:47,800 too far from you, and it was on a midday morning and from a, 574 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:51,500 from a distance. I saw what you cannot deny to be 575 00:36:51,500 --> 00:36:54,000 to Mormons. The bicycles, gave it away. 576 00:36:55,700 --> 00:36:56,900 Bicycles in the white dress shirts. 577 00:36:56,900 --> 00:36:59,600 I don't mean to be, I'm not trying to mock them but I'm just 578 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:01,000 being honest, that's how I recognize them. 579 00:37:01,900 --> 00:37:03,800 And so I just walked and walked and walked in there was sitting 580 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:05,600 there and I thought, you know what, let me just pull up beside 581 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:07,800 him and they were young. I knew that they were on 582 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:10,100 Mission, you know, Mormons. If you don't know this Mormons, 583 00:37:10,100 --> 00:37:12,700 dedicate their serious Mormons, two years of their life. 584 00:37:12,700 --> 00:37:14,500 They pause on everything in life to do Mission. 585 00:37:14,500 --> 00:37:18,200 They go to a different country, they raise their own funds, they 586 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:21,900 move away from home and they preach a false gospel for two 587 00:37:21,900 --> 00:37:24,400 years of their lives. And most of them do Matt the 588 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:28,100 younger years of their lives. So I sat beside them and hearing 589 00:37:28,100 --> 00:37:30,400 their idea of the gospel and hearing what heaven is all 590 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:32,200 about. And it's amazing if you study 591 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:37,400 Cults, all cults really have a Fascination for sexuality, study 592 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:39,400 called very carefully and you'll realize that there is this 593 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:44,500 emphasis on sex. Look at Islam Mormons. 594 00:37:44,500 --> 00:37:46,500 What's the what's the Pinnacle of Glory? 595 00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:49,500 You having a Celestial wife and populating planets? 596 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:53,800 And so we talked about that, we talked about their understanding 597 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:54,800 of Heaven. Well, there's no real. 598 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:57,000 Hell, there's three tiers of heaven, and if you were good 599 00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:59,000 enough, you can get to the top tier if you don't, you're in 600 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,200 this lower compartment. And so we really want to get to 601 00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:04,600 the top and idea of the top is and their language enjoying 602 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:08,700 family and having your loved ones and you dig deep, it's much 603 00:38:08,700 --> 00:38:12,400 more than that. And here's where the argument 604 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:13,400 ended and there is different arguments. 605 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:17,600 But this is this is all that put a stop to any idea being 606 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:20,600 proposed on their part. Have you not read? 607 00:38:22,300 --> 00:38:24,900 And I looked at me says, have you not read what Jesus said to 608 00:38:24,900 --> 00:38:28,000 the Sadducees who try to make a case against the resurrection? 609 00:38:28,300 --> 00:38:32,600 That one woman had several wives, whose husband will be 610 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:36,000 hers in the resurrection? And Jesus says, you do not know 611 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:40,000 the scriptures or the power of God, those who will be 612 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:42,600 resurrected on to life will be like the angels of God. 613 00:38:43,700 --> 00:38:47,200 So you guys are you're motivated for your works here because you 614 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,700 want to get to the top tier of Heaven which the main theme of 615 00:38:49,700 --> 00:38:53,100 it is populating and having a family and Jesus himself said, 616 00:38:53,300 --> 00:38:58,100 you ain't gonna get married, have you not read all would we 617 00:38:58,100 --> 00:39:02,000 know our Bibles so that we can be free from false doctrines. 618 00:39:03,500 --> 00:39:05,400 So we come to Jesus, where was I? 619 00:39:07,300 --> 00:39:09,900 And there are talking to him about these disciples. 620 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:16,900 And the rattled. What is Jesus going to do? 621 00:39:16,900 --> 00:39:23,500 Apologize for being too strong. No, he's gonna he's gonna up the 622 00:39:23,500 --> 00:39:26,800 ante if you think they're mad. Now he's about to make them very 623 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:30,100 mad and he's going to do. So with two statements, we're 624 00:39:30,100 --> 00:39:32,000 going to stay in Matthew since we're already there. 625 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:35,100 Two of these statements are in Matthew, one of them has shared 626 00:39:35,100 --> 00:39:38,400 with Mark, almost word for word. And so, here's what he says in 627 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:43,300 verse 6, after he talks about the priests, And Matthew brings 628 00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:46,900 up something in verse 6, I tell you something greater than the 629 00:39:46,900 --> 00:39:49,700 temple is here. Why does it Mark? 630 00:39:49,700 --> 00:39:51,800 Bring that up? Well if you understand Matthews 631 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:54,200 main audience, they were Jews. This would mean a lot more to 632 00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:56,500 the Jew than the Gentiles that Mark was writing to. 633 00:39:56,900 --> 00:40:01,000 So he brings up the temple. He brings up the that prize 634 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,700 building for the Jewish people and he says something 635 00:40:04,700 --> 00:40:06,800 astounding. I mean, he could have stopped at 636 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:09,200 bring up David in the priests and they could have moved on. 637 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:13,600 But like with Jesus loves to do is bring up further truth using 638 00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:19,800 these opportunities to amplify his person I tell Something 639 00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:24,300 greater than the temple is here. This is after he spoke about the 640 00:40:24,300 --> 00:40:26,700 priest who work in the temple, even on the Sabbath. 641 00:40:27,700 --> 00:40:30,400 Jesus means that he is greater than Temple, which is what he is 642 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:34,000 saying the what an astounding claim this is because this is 643 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:36,500 what he is conveying if the priests of the physical Temple, 644 00:40:36,500 --> 00:40:39,300 pay attention to this. If the priests of the physical 645 00:40:39,300 --> 00:40:41,700 Temple, we're allowed to be dismissed. 646 00:40:43,100 --> 00:40:46,200 From The Binding regulations of the Sabbath because the nature 647 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:48,600 of their work was divinely ordained. 648 00:40:48,900 --> 00:40:53,200 How much more should these Disciples of mine be exempt? 649 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:59,500 because they're eating as a result of their service to what 650 00:40:59,500 --> 00:41:04,900 the temple is pointing to you see if you're willing to 651 00:41:04,900 --> 00:41:08,200 overlook the priests because of their sacrificial service in the 652 00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:12,700 physical House of God, do you not realize that these men are 653 00:41:12,700 --> 00:41:16,500 working because they have been serving The one who is greater 654 00:41:16,500 --> 00:41:23,400 than the temple. And he's here greater than the 655 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:26,600 temple. Who does this man? 656 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:29,600 Think he is. I tell you who he is. 657 00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:36,300 He is the true Ark of the Covenant God's presence dwelling 658 00:41:36,300 --> 00:41:38,800 with man. He is the sacrifice that 659 00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:43,100 fulfills all the Shadows of the ceremonies and the ordinances he 660 00:41:43,100 --> 00:41:47,100 is the priest who does not continually stand to perform 661 00:41:47,100 --> 00:41:49,500 sacrifices. But now is seated at the right 662 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:54,600 hand of God because his shed blood suffice has the standard 663 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:58,900 of God's righteousness. He is are omnipresent access to 664 00:41:58,900 --> 00:42:02,500 the father. That veil has been torn and at 665 00:42:02,500 --> 00:42:06,500 any time and any place in the name of Jesus we can come boldly 666 00:42:06,500 --> 00:42:11,200 to the throne of grace. He is to be worthy of all praise 667 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:15,900 and reverence and adoration for his Beauty, outshines Solomon's 668 00:42:15,900 --> 00:42:19,300 designs and herod's expansion to that design. 669 00:42:19,300 --> 00:42:23,100 He is greater than the temple and he is our Temple. 670 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:27,700 Jesus Christ. Think he stopped there. 671 00:42:30,600 --> 00:42:34,300 I mean, it's possible for these Pharisees to have misunderstood 672 00:42:34,300 --> 00:42:36,400 what he said. They did that many times. 673 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:40,800 Maybe he did register but Jesus is about to say in his second 674 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:43,700 statement, shared my Matthew and Mark would be clear as day 675 00:42:43,700 --> 00:42:47,400 because how he ends this whole discourse, how he ends this 676 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:49,700 dialogue with these men as by saying. 677 00:42:50,500 --> 00:42:54,600 So the son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath. 678 00:42:57,400 --> 00:42:59,100 Mark says it almost word for word. 679 00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:02,600 Here's a translation and it's a beautiful translation. 680 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:06,200 He looks at these Pharisees who were running around Jerusalem in 681 00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:10,000 a different streets, and if it's of Israel to try to try to find 682 00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:14,600 people who are breaking their law and he says, you don't get 683 00:43:15,200 --> 00:43:18,700 to make the rules about the Sabbath. 684 00:43:20,700 --> 00:43:24,800 I do, I am the lord of the Sabbath. 685 00:43:24,900 --> 00:43:27,200 I'm the one who has authority over it. 686 00:43:27,900 --> 00:43:31,100 I created it. I instituted it. 687 00:43:31,300 --> 00:43:35,100 I declared it and I alone determine what happens on it. 688 00:43:36,600 --> 00:43:44,000 I mean to see their faces, these men who made so much about who 689 00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:47,000 they were around the Sabbath and here's Jesus, looking at them 690 00:43:47,900 --> 00:43:50,800 and saying I'm the lord of the Sabbath even. 691 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:53,600 I yes, Am Lord over the Sabbath up to this point in Mark, we've 692 00:43:53,600 --> 00:43:55,400 seen him Lord over so many things. 693 00:43:56,000 --> 00:44:00,300 The Lord over Temptation, Lord over sin, Lord over demons, 694 00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:03,300 Lord, over disease. And here he is. 695 00:44:03,300 --> 00:44:05,500 Now saying I'm Lord even of the Sabbath. 696 00:44:08,500 --> 00:44:12,700 I want to end here. Because again, we could be 697 00:44:12,700 --> 00:44:16,600 tempted to just look at that as an observation that admire the 698 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:20,100 Insight, not realize how it has direct instruction for our 699 00:44:20,100 --> 00:44:24,200 lives. We get into a lot of trouble in 700 00:44:24,200 --> 00:44:26,700 our spiritual Endeavor. Is when we feel confident like 701 00:44:26,700 --> 00:44:31,100 the Pharisees to add or remove rules or interpretations to the 702 00:44:31,100 --> 00:44:33,100 things that God has made clear in his word. 703 00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:39,500 We get into a lot of trouble. But what kind of blessing and 704 00:44:39,500 --> 00:44:45,500 Purity comes and is assessed and is maintained in every believer. 705 00:44:46,900 --> 00:44:50,500 Especially leaders in the church who would live in light of the 706 00:44:50,500 --> 00:44:53,000 lordship of Jesus Christ in all things. 707 00:44:54,600 --> 00:44:58,100 Who really believe that as Jesus highlights the Sabbath. 708 00:44:58,100 --> 00:45:00,200 He says, yes, I'm even lord of the Sabbath. 709 00:45:01,300 --> 00:45:07,700 What do we, what do we know? What would we know if we believe 710 00:45:07,700 --> 00:45:12,200 that Christ is Lord over? Yes, everything even fill in the 711 00:45:12,200 --> 00:45:16,200 blank. Lord. 712 00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:21,000 You have the final say you are the Lord of what we preach at 713 00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:25,800 this church. You have complete lordship over 714 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:29,600 what we sing, how we deal with one another, how we build our 715 00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:34,500 lives in your name. Teach us to see that your way is 716 00:45:34,500 --> 00:45:37,000 the only way. And it is the best way to teach 717 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:39,900 us to understand your word that we may apply it. 718 00:45:39,900 --> 00:45:43,400 So that you may be maximally glorified a, we may be maximally 719 00:45:43,400 --> 00:45:47,400 blessed teach us to Understand that your decrees were designed 720 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:51,100 to be adored to certain degree for you are our Lord. 721 00:45:51,100 --> 00:45:52,400 Yes. The Lord of everything. 722 00:45:54,600 --> 00:45:56,100 Do you want to know what happens when you? 723 00:45:56,100 --> 00:45:59,600 And I make our own rules and I bump into a lot of Christians 724 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:03,500 who do about what it means to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. 725 00:46:03,500 --> 00:46:06,000 You want to know what happens when we come up with our own 726 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:11,000 convictions and standards that contradict this book that 727 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:12,600 violate the clear teachings of Jesus. 728 00:46:12,600 --> 00:46:17,400 We get exactly what the Pharisees produced by promoting 729 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:22,200 their rules burdens. Burdens. 730 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:28,400 Legalism clear burden. It's obvious. 731 00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:33,800 Miserable people miserable Ministries? 732 00:46:34,100 --> 00:46:35,800 No joy. No freedom. 733 00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:38,500 And it does, he even it doesn't even heal you. 734 00:46:40,400 --> 00:46:44,300 Some of the most heinous people come from legalistic 735 00:46:44,300 --> 00:46:49,000 backgrounds. But lawlessness being loose and 736 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:52,500 light with God's word, that also brings burden into our lives. 737 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:57,300 It does have a guilty conscience. 738 00:46:58,400 --> 00:47:00,400 Of the natural repercussions of sin. 739 00:47:02,100 --> 00:47:06,900 Rob of the blessing of God's face shining Upon Us robbed of 740 00:47:06,900 --> 00:47:10,900 the assurance that our lives are not open to Satan and his 741 00:47:10,900 --> 00:47:15,500 schemes. Robbed of fellowship with God 742 00:47:15,900 --> 00:47:19,300 burdens, when we come up with our own rules, when we come up 743 00:47:19,300 --> 00:47:21,700 with our own ideas of what it means to be a True Believer, all 744 00:47:21,700 --> 00:47:27,100 we open our lives to burdens when Jesus said, come to me. 745 00:47:28,900 --> 00:47:32,100 Come to me all who are weary and are heavy laden. 746 00:47:33,000 --> 00:47:35,400 When he says, take my yoke upon. You know what he's saying there? 747 00:47:35,400 --> 00:47:40,300 Take my burden upon you, roll off the burden of your own ideas 748 00:47:40,300 --> 00:47:42,600 of what it means to please. God of what it means to live 749 00:47:42,600 --> 00:47:49,900 free in this life and take my yoke upon you. it's light, its 750 00:47:49,900 --> 00:47:57,600 life giving It was such a free. I want to ask you today. for 751 00:47:57,600 --> 00:48:04,200 those who are visiting, especially, Is your relationship 752 00:48:04,700 --> 00:48:09,800 with God. According to this book, Are you 753 00:48:09,800 --> 00:48:12,800 burdened? Are you burdened by sin? 754 00:48:13,800 --> 00:48:17,800 Are you burdened by trying to strive your way to please God. 755 00:48:19,400 --> 00:48:22,300 Are you burden with the sense of purposelessness where you just 756 00:48:22,300 --> 00:48:24,600 floating around in this life, you're just a number. 757 00:48:26,800 --> 00:48:30,000 Come to Jesus. And trust. 758 00:48:30,000 --> 00:48:32,700 That is he lays upon you his word? 759 00:48:33,100 --> 00:48:35,800 It will be the most freeing thing you've ever experienced. 760 00:48:36,600 --> 00:48:43,200 He made you, he created you. And when he did, he gave us the 761 00:48:43,200 --> 00:48:48,200 option to continue in fellowship with him or to have our own way. 762 00:48:48,200 --> 00:48:51,100 And when we made our own way, we turned our back on him and we 763 00:48:51,100 --> 00:48:54,100 walked as fast as we can. Some are running in the other 764 00:48:54,100 --> 00:48:59,400 direction, but because he loves you, he dies for you and he 765 00:48:59,400 --> 00:49:02,200 calls for you to come back to him. 766 00:49:02,800 --> 00:49:05,700 He paid a price, the price that separates you from him. 767 00:49:06,100 --> 00:49:09,000 And he wants you to know, the life that only he can offer 768 00:49:09,000 --> 00:49:10,900 because he is the author of life. 769 00:49:12,100 --> 00:49:15,900 He is the author of life. So, stop running. 770 00:49:17,100 --> 00:49:23,000 Stop making up your own idea and rules about what life is come to 771 00:49:23,000 --> 00:49:26,400 the one who created you and who died for you. 772 00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:29,700 And you will know, not just life according to the words of Jesus 773 00:49:29,700 --> 00:49:33,400 about life abundantly and that's not waiting for us in heaven. 774 00:49:33,400 --> 00:49:36,200 Oh no, you can bubble up with that join life today. 775 00:49:36,500 --> 00:49:40,000 Even in this chaotic world you can do a deep-seated joy that no 776 00:49:40,000 --> 00:49:43,100 one can rob from you and he paid a high price for that to be 777 00:49:43,100 --> 00:49:44,400 real. Would you give up? 778 00:49:44,600 --> 00:49:46,200 You know what repentance simply means. 779 00:49:47,000 --> 00:49:53,200 Up stop fall at his feet and as you're there, look at those feet 780 00:49:53,200 --> 00:49:55,400 and realize that they were pierced for you. 781 00:49:56,000 --> 00:49:59,500 He was nailed to a piece of wood so that you can know freedom. 782 00:50:00,500 --> 00:50:03,000 And I pray that you would be safe today. 783 00:50:03,700 --> 00:50:06,200 And for those who are saved, would we prepare our hearts to 784 00:50:06,200 --> 00:50:09,600 partake on the truth? That Jesus took our place and 785 00:50:09,600 --> 00:50:12,900 that we have life in him alone. Let's do that. 786 00:50:34,500 --> 00:50:37,000 Lord, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 787 00:50:40,300 --> 00:50:45,200 That you are a good God. You were not like Pharaoh, you 788 00:50:45,200 --> 00:50:49,400 do not make. Our Lives of Burden. 789 00:50:55,700 --> 00:50:58,000 You do not call us to make bricks without straw. 790 00:50:58,000 --> 00:51:03,200 Oh, Lord, Even in our obedience to your word, you Empower us and 791 00:51:03,200 --> 00:51:07,400 you forgive us when we fail. And you do not give up on us 792 00:51:07,400 --> 00:51:10,700 because your love is patient. Thank you. 793 00:51:11,900 --> 00:51:16,100 And Lord, as we partake of this meal, we pray that our eyes 794 00:51:16,100 --> 00:51:20,200 would be on the grace of God. In the person of Jesus Christ, 795 00:51:20,200 --> 00:51:23,500 that all that we hear about do's and don'ts come from the 796 00:51:23,500 --> 00:51:29,300 position of being forgiven freely, because of the Lord, 797 00:51:29,300 --> 00:51:32,200 Jesus Lord. May this have a sanctifying 798 00:51:32,200 --> 00:51:36,000 effect on this congregation, we want to be in your will. 799 00:51:36,300 --> 00:51:40,100 We want to, please you, we want to love you, Lord, look into our 800 00:51:40,100 --> 00:51:43,900 hearts and would you see a For you a true love for you. 801 00:51:43,900 --> 00:51:49,000 An imperfect love yes but a love nonetheless we adore you Lord 802 00:51:49,300 --> 00:51:52,900 for the cold heart, the cold heart that will walk up to this 803 00:51:52,900 --> 00:51:56,600 table by faith made this revive them.