St. Matthew

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 begins an important dialogue on Sabbath Law. As we all know, the Sabbath commandment was honored by observing the list of things that consisted of working on the Sabbath. Jesus is called to account for breaking two of the traditions. First, he allowed his disciples to pluck grain from the field on the Sabbath because they were hungry. The act of plucking grain was not in keeping with the Sabbath Law. Jesus pointed out that there were two “exceptions” to that law. First, David and his soldiers were allowed to eat the Bread of the Presence in the temple, allowed only to the priests. Yet they were not punished for this infraction. Second, the priests work on the Sabbath in the temple.

Jesus concludes his arguments with the quotation from the Prophet Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” This is yet another quotation from the Old Testament. You will recall the importance for Matthew who is speaking to Jews in quotations of their scriptures in evidence of Jesus. Jesus enters their scriptures into the argument to draw attention to Jesus as God in the present. The word “sacrifice” in this instance represents the entire body of law and tradition. Jesus points his accusers to the truth that God is more concerned with the weightier matters of mercy and justice than the multiplicity of their laws. Those matters that matter most to God, “seek mercy, love justice, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah)

Jesus teaches that God’s mercy lies at the center of God’s will and purpose for the world. He then goes on to demonstrate mercy as they enter the synagogue. Jesus confronts a man with a withered hand. Would I be breaking the law if I healed him? The answer is complex. The tradition was that you could treat a crisis, but the every day matters need to wait until the other six days of the week. Jesus points out that a sheep that has fallen into the well would be rescued. Their tradition, however, required this man to wait until the next day. “Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” Jesus’ point was that for this man to achieve true Sabbath rest he needed healing. In Jesus, in this moment of teaching we begin to see the gap that had grown between God and the Holy Law. The legal tradition of the Torah had taken on a different meaning from what God intended. Mercy toward the weak or the sick was far more important to God than the blind obedience to what had become the tradition of Sabbath obedience to the second commandment.

The response of the legalists was to seek his death. The response of the Evangelist, Matthew is to point out the validation of Jesus through the Holy Scripture. He quotes Isaiah from one of the Servant Songs (Isaiah 42:1-4 – the reading appointed for Good Friday – the Suffering Servant). Important cues to be taken from the Servant Song are that God appointed this one by the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. It is by the Spirit that Jesus operates. A second important cue is that the role of the servant to “bring justice to victory.” The third important cue is that the Gentiles are given hope “in his name.” All of these characteristics are “signs” of the Messianic Age that has taken root in the presence of Jesus the Christ. The validation of God through the prophets and invalidation of the legalists who profess to teach and support the law in complete obedience is the point that Matthew is making. There is a disparity between God and the Pharisees (the legalists – who professed pure adherence to the law [Torah]).

The Rev. Dr. Kipp W. Zimmermann

Wednesday, June 21, 2006