The Pharisees are now trying to catch Jesus disobeying the law. In their minds, the real Messiah is thought to never disobey religious laws. The Pharisees really adhered to the law that set aside the Sabbath as being a day of rest, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Verse 1 The disciples were hungry so they plucked some corn and ate it. The law allowed for them to pick their neighbor’s grain if they were hungry. (Deuteronomy 23:25)

Verse 2 The Pharisees accuse them of disobeying another law, the law of Moses that protects the Sabbath. God had commanded Israel to remember the Sabbath as a time of rest, spiritual refreshment, and no work. (Exodus 20:8-11) But the Pharisees added their own laws on top of God’s law in regard to what was work and not work. They called what Jesus and his disciples were doing “harvesting the grain.” So to them, this was breaking the law.

Those who tend to be guilty of some heinous crimes are quick to squash others for the most innocent of actions.

Verse 3-4 Jesus shares a story about how David ate bread that was only intended for priests. (1 Samuel 21:1-9) As God’s anointed one, David was allowed to eat the bread because he was in need of food.

Verse 5 If it’s allowed for David, then how much more is it allowed for the Son of God, the Messiah, the true Anointed One. Jesus says He is Lord of the Sabbath. He is equal with God and knows all about the Sabbath. That really made the Pharisees upset that this guy Jesus thinks he is equal to God.

Verse 8 Jesus knew their thoughts. He knows yours and mine too before we ever say a word or lift a finger.

Verse 9 Jesus poses a question to them whether it’s better to do good on the Sabbath or do evil. If you had to choose one or the other to do on this Holy day, which one would it be. I love Jesus’ use of choices here. And His whole point here is to say if you choose not to do good, well, then you’ve just decided to do evil by not helping someone when it’s within your capacity to help.

So think about that. If it’s in your capacity to help someone out and you choose not to, then you’re choosing to do evil. Here’s a good verse that demonstrates this:

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” James‬ ‭2:14-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If we say we have faith and we see a need, then do not say you’ll pray for someone and walk away when it’s in your ability to do more and help.

Verse 11 Though the Pharisees just witnessed a miracle, they were so upset with the way it happened. Instead of rejoicing, they are filled with rage and discuss how they are going to get rid of this Jesus.

Looking at this story from another angle here, have you ever watched someone get a miracle handed to them, and afterward you struggled to rejoice because it wasn’t you who got the needed miracle? This last verse of the story convicted me here. It’s hard to struggle in prayer for a change in our situation while we watch others around us get healing and restoration. How do we rejoice in that? It’s easy to get angry and be spiteful. Spiritually, this is incredibly difficult to reconcile with a good God. Why is He good to others and pours out His miracles on their lives and yet seems to forget about me? It doesn’t seem fair that we must suffer through rejoicing for others while we’re hurting inside.

In 2021, a friend of mine was preparing for the birth of her third child, a pregnancy she was not expecting and not too happy about. At the same time, I was three months pregnant with our second child when a routine ultrasound revealed our baby girl wouldn’t be able to sustain life. A couple of days after surgery, my pregnant friend announced she was having a baby boy in a month and didn’t have anything for the baby. The Lord pressed on my heart at that moment to prepare her for a baby shower. It sounds cruel. In the midst of losing my baby girl in pregnancy, I was being asked to plan for the arrival of my friend’s baby boy. The tears stung my face and the idea stung my heart. But I heard the Lord say, “your loss has nothing to do with their gain. And her gain has nothing to do with your loss.” 😭Someone else’s miracle isn’t about me. And my loss isn’t about them. I can rejoice for my friend in my own suffering. I can be glad for her miracle in the midst of my tragedy. This rejoicing and gladness do not take away from my sadness. Sometimes we confine ourselves to an “all or nothing” mentality. We either have to be all sadness or all gladness. But these are emotions that can coexist inside when I trust Jesus is the one holding it all together. There is a time to be glad and a time to be sad. There is enough room in the sanctuary of my heart to be both glad for my friend and sad for my loss. Looking at my friend’s happiness took the focus off my own sadness. I found myself thanking God for her gain and for being so faithful to His children. My loss is a short chapter in my story but not the end by far.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for Your provision, for Your healing, for Your goodness, Your kindness, Your faithfulness, Your love, Your miracles that have no boundaries. They work outside of time. When faced with a choice to do good for someone, help me to say ‘yes’. Help me not look at my own circumstances or wait, but to act on the opportunity. Help me to choose to do good in all situations so that I don’t by default choose evil. Holy Spirit, remind me when it’s tempting to say ‘I’ll pray for you,’ to search for a way I can really help and be a blessing. Help me to rejoice with others who are rejoicing. Help me to set aside myself, to set aside my pain and see Your miracles are still being performed on this earth, Jesus. You are still delivering miracles. I can rejoice in that. My next miracle is just around the corner, I know this in my heart, Jesus. You are for me! You have my best in mind. Help me live assured of this so I can fully rejoice in all circumstances, in all situations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.