God's laws can only be interpreted by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the absence of the Spirit, you'll have man's wisdom, which is foolishness to God. This is where additions to the law come in, to suit man rather than pleasing God. The Pharisees had become so stuck on their own traditions that they often missed the intention of the law in the first place. The Sabbath was created to give man a day of rest, however they find fault with Jesus' disciples plucking grain to eat. Mark 2:27-28, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Think about how ridiculous their traditions were that would make the disciples guilty of harvesting, threshing, and preparing food when they were just meeting a simple practical need. Jesus said, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice." Our sacrifices to the Lord cannot be at the expense others, failing to show mercy or condemning the guiltless, because they do not follow man's rules.
Verses 9-14, “Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.”
To demonstrate this point even further, Jesus went on to heal someone on the Sabbath, knowing that the Pharisees would question Him. Their question was not intended to gain understanding, but rather to accuse and condemn Jesus according to their own traditions. Jesus responds with His own question that demonstrates how ridiculous their man made law really was, and pointed out the flaw in their thinking. If any one of them would deliver a sheep from a pit on the Sabbath, how much more should Jesus deliver a human soul? Again, without the Holy Spirit, you cannot discern the intent of the law. If we are true disciples, those without the Spirit will question us, trying to derail our faith. Titus 3:9-11, “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” The word "disputes" reads "questions" in the King James Bible. Divisive people are evil and have no desire to be taught or learn the truth. They just ask foolish questions intending to pull people away from the truth. This is the work of Satan.
The Pharisees then ask Jesus for a sign to prove His authority, not that they are even convinceable. Verses 38-42, "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, 'Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.' But He answered and said to them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.' " Calling Him teacher was condescending and showed no true respect for who He was. The bottom line is, those who have a soft heart to receive the truth will listen and understand. Those with evil hearts will never be convinced of the truth no matter how many signs are given, or how much you've shared it with them... they just will not receive it. They are bent on having their way, which is not the Way that leads to eternal life.
God is not a respecter of persons and does not show the partiality that the Pharisees so want to receive, and this makes them angry. Verses 47-50, "Then one said to Him, 'Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.' But He answered and said to the one who told Him, 'Who is My mother and who are My brothers?' And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” The only way to be in God's family is to do His will and obey His commands. If you refuse to obey, you will not receive the benefits or inheritance that comes to those who belong. John 1:10-13, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” And according to the Word, those who are not a child of God, are children of the devil. I John 3:10, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”
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