Missing The Point

Religion, without Jesus is Missing the Point. Let me explain. Jesus was traveling with his disciples on the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday). The disciples were hungry, and they started plucking the heads of grain and eating them as they traveled through the field. The Law of Moses forbid working on the Sabbath and the religious Pharisee’s were watching their every move trying to find a way to trap them.

Was the Law clear and in effect during the time of Jesus? Yes (Exodus 31:15-17). Were Jesus’ disciples breaking the letter of the law? Yes! Then why did Jesus respond to the Pharisees in this way and what is the real purpose of the Law?

Matthew 12:3-5 (NLT)

Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

4 He went into the house of God, and they broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.

5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?

Do you think those same Pharisees would condemn David for eating the sacred loaves when he was hungry? No, because David was the anointed King of Israel.

Jesus then takes the argument to another level in verse 5. Do you not know that the priests on duty every Sabbath break the Sabbath Law by working on Saturday? Do you think the Pharisee’s would condemn the priests that fulfill their religious duties on Saturday? No, because they were exempt from the Law while they were on duty to fulfill the law.

This is the point that the Pharisee’s were missing. They didn’t see Jesus as the anointed King that had come from the line of David (son of David). They didn’t see Jesus as the High Priest that was the fulfillment of the Law of Moses and the Law of the Sabbath.

Jesus was the King and Jesus was the Priest in his examples to the Pharisee’s. But they were stuck on religion and missed the point. And what is the point? What was Jesus trying to communicate to the religious Pharisee’s in that day and the church today? What is the point?

Matthew 12:6 (NLT)

I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!

Religion without Jesus is missing the point. One greater than David was standing in front of them, and they are asking Jesus to obey a law that would not have held David accountable to.

One greater than the Temple or the Priest’s that served in the Temple was standing in front of them and they were asking Jesus to obey a law that they would not have held the priests accountable to.

Religion without Jesus is missing the point. Jesus takes this moment to reveal the real point to the Pharisees.

Matthew 12:7-8 (NLT)

But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’

8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

That was the point then and this is the point today…Jesus is Lord, even over the Sabbath. Jesus is the one that gave the Law to Moses. Jesus could certainly interpret it and apply it correctly. The problem then and now is this. They didn’t recognize Jesus as Lord!

Jesus then quotes the Scriptures to the Pharisee’s who are quoting the law to him. Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6.

Hosea 6:6 (NLT)

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

God’s desire for man is not based on religious offerings that miss the point. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offering. God wants us to know and love him more than any offering or service we can render to him. Religion without Jesus misses the point.

This is the main point, and it will never be found by practicing religion. From the time of the Pharisees to the time of the church, the point is still the same.

John 17:3-4 (NLT)

And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

Religion without Jesus is missing the point.

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen,

Terry Cooper