6I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
7If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,
10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
11He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
- P57
12How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
13Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
- P58
As Jesus walks through grainfields one Sabbath day, His hungry disciples pick some grains and eat them. The Pharisees condemn the disciples because according to them, picking grains on the Sabbath is work, and working on the Sabbath is unlawful. Using examples from Scripture, Jesus shows the Pharisees that their rules for what can or cannot be done on the Sabbath are missing the point; He reveals that showing mercy is more valuable to God than rituals. - P60
However, this does not mean we should stop "rituals" like our Sunday gatherings. But as we do them, let us remember that God expects more from us than a worship service: He wants us to show His mercy by loving others and attending to their needs. - P60
In 1 Samuel 15, God ordered King Saul to destroy the Amalekites com-pletely. But Saul disobeyed God and spared the Amalekite king and the bestof their animals. Saul tried to excuse his behavior by saying he just wantedto offer the animals to God as a sacrifice, but eventually confessed it wasbecause he was afraid of dipleasing his men. The prophet Samuel informedSaul that God does not need anything and that He desires obedience aboveeverything else. - P61
Dear God, Your Word and Your works reflect Your merciful character. Help me to honor Your desire for me to reflect such character. Forgive me for the times I neglect to understand and do what is important to You. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P61
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