Something greater than the temple is here
Published Jul 15, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Obviously, it is Jesus who is greater than the Temple. But the Pharisees do not realize this. They question why his disciples pick heads of grain and eat them on a Sabbath. They are violating the law. Among others, works prohibited on Sabbath are: sowing, plowing, reaping, binding sheaves, threshing, winnowing, cleansing crops, grinding, sifting, kneading, baking, weaving, making two loops, weaving two threads, separating two threads, tying a knot, untying a knot, sewing two stitches, tearing, writing two letters, erasing, building, pulling down, putting out a fire, lighting a fire, striking with a hammer, moving anything from one domain to another (Stephen Wylen, The Jews in the Time of Jesus).
Jesus tells a story about how David and his men “violated” a rule when they went into the house (sanctuary) of God and ate the bread of offering because they were hungry. They were not pronounced guilty. Jesus just wants to teach the Pharisees that they can do better. They should show mercy, rather than condemn his innocent disciples who need to eat. It is a basic necessity. Besides, it is Jesus the Son of Man who is the judge of what is right and wrong. He is greater than the Temple.
Gospel • Matthew 12:1-8
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Obviously, it is Jesus who is greater than the Temple. But the Pharisees do not realize this. They question why his disciples pick heads of grain and eat them on a Sabbath. They are violating the law. Among others, works prohibited on Sabbath are: sowing, plowing, reaping, binding sheaves, threshing, winnowing, cleansing crops, grinding, sifting, kneading, baking, weaving, making two loops, weaving two threads, separating two threads, tying a knot, untying a knot, sewing two stitches, tearing, writing two letters, erasing, building, pulling down, putting out a fire, lighting a fire, striking with a hammer, moving anything from one domain to another (Stephen Wylen, The Jews in the Time of Jesus).
Jesus tells a story about how David and his men “violated” a rule when they went into the house (sanctuary) of God and ate the bread of offering because they were hungry. They were not pronounced guilty. Jesus just wants to teach the Pharisees that they can do better. They should show mercy, rather than condemn his innocent disciples who need to eat. It is a basic necessity. Besides, it is Jesus the Son of Man who is the judge of what is right and wrong. He is greater than the Temple.
Gospel • Matthew 12:1-8
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.