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Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain Matthew 12:5:
The Sabbath in the Time of ChristMatthew 12:5-6
Excerpted from: The Fourth Commandment (Part 3)In this case then, they were blameless because a larger obligation overruled the letter of the law. The larger obligation was to be merciful. The letter of the law was that they could not have that bread. The larger obligation said that it was more important to eat than it was to fast (to sacrifice eating). Holy bread, or holy time (the Sabbath), can be used exceptionally in order to sustain life.
"The priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are BLAMELESS." They not only baked the bread and put it out on the table; they were also making sacrifices on that day, which consisted of a great deal of labor.
So, here's your question: "Why were they blameless?" The answer is—for the same reason that Jesus justified doing the healing on the Sabbath in John 5. It's the same reason why the priests were blameless for doing a circumcision on the Sabbath. They were doing the work of God. They were doing the work of salvation. So what were they doing then? They were fulfilling a purpose on the Sabbath that somebody had to do. This is the issue—all the way through John 5, 7, and 9.
Now, Christ is greater than the temple. He is the Head of God's spiritual temple. He is its High Priest. And the disciples are what? His priests in training—His agents! Thus, their Sabbath ministry—every Sabbath—intensified, even as Jesus' did. Were they justified, then, in eating on the Sabbath? Absolutely! Because of the circumstance, and because of the office that they were now holding in God's spiritual temple.
So, the circumstances dictated a "profaning of the Sabbath," because of their involvement in the work of God. Loving service is greater than ritual fulfillment. What loving services were Jesus and His disciples performing on the Sabbath? They were teaching God's way. They were healing people. Now, what is mercy? Mercy is things like helpful acts. We might say "acts of love," aid comfort, pity, and sympathy for the distress. It may go on and on, with a list of things that may help relieve a burden from someone.
Matthew 12:1-8
Excerpted from: God's Promise of RestNow in Mark's account, he had something important that Jesus said that is left out here in Matthew's account. You do not have to turn there, but in Mark 2:27, he adds, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." So, he tells us the Sabbath was made on account of man with the specific purpose of being a service to mankind. The Sabbath is the promised, thoughtful gift of rest from the Creator to His created beings. The Sabbath's purpose goes far beyond just a physical rest from burdensome work. God ties the Sabbath to His spiritual creation which does not stop on the Sabbath but rather is put into a higher gear on the Sabbath with even more spiritual work and focus on the Sabbath than on the other days of the week. The Sabbath is intended to ensure both mankind's physical and spiritual well-being.
ArticlesRighteousness from Inside-Out
The Fourth Commandment (Part Two): Christ's Attitude Toward the Sabbath
EssaysDid Christ's Resurrection Change the Day of Worship? (Part One)
SermonsWhy Did the Jews Hate Jesus?
The Fourth Commandment (Part 3)
Sabbathkeeping (Part 4)
Faith and the Calendar (Part Five): Summary
The Pharisees (Part 2)
Matthew (Part Seventeen)
Eating Out on the Sabbath
God's Law Is Eternal
The Commandments (Part Seven)
The Commandments (Part Seven)
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