Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5 - Missing the Point

At that time, Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here." And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch it out," and his hand was restored.

Sometimes Missing the Point can be Dangerous! 

An Apple A Day... by ~KoorimeYume on deviantART  

 The Pharisees really knew the Law.  The were experts on what God did and did not allow.  They were also first in line to accuse someone of breaking God's Law and, in thinking they were being Faithful to God's command, they were missing what God wanted altogether.  Jesus, of course, knew the Law, too and He was faithful to adhere to it. But He also knew the purpose of the Law and knew that Man, made in the Image of God, is what is most important in the Heart of God, not His ceremonial Laws.

The Ceremonial Laws were made to help the people of Israel remember that they were to be a separate and holy people.  But God is all about Love.  So if His disciples are very hungry on the Sabbath day, He lets them "work" by plucking grain to eat.  If a man has a withered hand which he cannot straighten out, Jesus doesn't wait till the Sabbath is over to show His Love through healing.  The Pharisees missed the work of God in their midst and instead of marveling at the healing,they were scandalized by it.  How foolish and hard their hearts were.

O Lord, I do not wish to grieve the heart of Jesus by my hardness of heart.  Help me to understand in all my dealings with my neighbor that I am to show Love first. If they are breaking God's Laws or even my own personal laws, help me to display the Love of God to them and not become judgmental   For surely judgment is Your job and not mine. Help me not to miss the point...and that point is Love. Amen