Luke 6:1–11 (ESV)
On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Jesus’ response in the first paragraph must have really stunned the Pharisees. Only God Himself is “lord of the Sabbath.” Jesus is claiming something way beyond just being the Messiah.
Then Jesus performs a glorious miracle. Think how much harder it would be for modern doctors to fix a withered hand than, say, to cure someone of leprosy. Also, think how much harder this is to fake than, say, curing a paralytic. This miracle is spectacular; it makes everyone’s eyes pop out. No question, this counts as work—on the Sabbath, which is a real trip-wire for the Pharisees.
This isn’t about the interpretation of some esoteric detail in Leviticus; it’s one of the Ten Commandments. To violate this so blatantly, and to justify it by claiming to be God, gives them fits.
It’d be easy for the Pharisees to just write Jesus off as a nut or an agent of evil, but His miracles are impressive and they are good works. The whole thing really throws them for a loop.
Throughout the rest of Luke, we’ll watch their sinful nature block them from recognizing the truth. They will jump from theory to theory, always avoiding the one that would humble them.
Garrison Keillor said of one of his characters, “Bob, like many successful people, is full of himself to an amazing extent.” This is the problem with the Pharisees; they think they’re better than everyone else. This aspect of sin infects us too.
Even though the gospel is inherently humbling, it doesn’t completely cure us of pride. Every good thing we do is an opportunity for self-congratulation. Every time God helps us out, we’re in danger of taking credit (even if just for asking for His help).
Of all the sins we need to work on, pride is number one. There is no better indicator of someone’s immaturity in Christ than their level of pride (especially how proud they are of their spiritual maturity).
