CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament. First, we will be confronted with various situation and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.
Matthew 12:7, “And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.”
Today we are confronted with questions about putting traditions and religious ritual law above necessity, justice and mercy, mercy versus sacrifice, condemning the guiltless and the innocent.
Matthew 12:1, “At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. Verse 2. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”
Verse 7. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. Verse 8. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:
Matthew 12:1, “At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. Verse 2. But when the Pharisees and I saw it, we said to Him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”
Verse 7. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. Verse 8. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
Dear friends, it may not be grain fields we find ourselves dealing with, but it is about putting religious traditions and rituals above the needs of the guiltless and innocent. We are to Show justice through mercy, Christian community over legalism.
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27).
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
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