Crosstian
Baring the Cross
It was truly not men who accused (they being merely a channel, a conduit, a medium), but satan accused through them, in an attempt to gainsay God's word, and to bring stain upon Christ Jesus through those whom He associated Himself with.
Notice, that Christ Jesus did not cite Deuteronomy 23:25 in defense, which He could have done, but instead He went on the attack and turned their (satan's) own argument on its head, using the definition they (satan) provided, "Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?"
The disciples actions were absolutely "lawful" according to sacred cripture. Why then did the Pharisees say it was "not lawful"? It was because they were using a standard that was not found in scripture, but rather was in their man-made oral traditions. They had made their own regulations above the law of God itself. They had exalted the opinion of traditions of men above the word of God, even as satan himself alway attempts to do (Genesis 3; Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28; Revelation 12).
Notice what Jesus now says to the accusers in return. He goes not to Deuteronomy 23:25, as in defense of action, but instead goes on the offensive and straight to the heart of the matter of the sabbath itself, with citing from the scriptures (thus "It is written", instead of the Pharisees, 'heard it said'), two primary examples, so that there would be no room for excuses in case the Pharisees had attempted to justify Exodus 20:8-11 over and above Deuteronomy 23:25, rather than in harmony with it: [1] King (David, later of the throne) and [2] Priest (of the service of God in the Temple) (which the disciples of Christ Jesus are, for we are all kings and priests (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6). Thus, Jesus said:
Jesus first cites the example of "King" David (1 Samuel 16:13; Psalms 89:20):
Jesus, referring to this event, then continues and says:
Which refers to the remaning events:
There was a law in the scriptures, that Jesus was referring to, that related to events that transpired on the sabbath day, in which the bread of the presence, the bread from the table of shewbread was replaced by fresh bread, every 7th day, and the old bread was to be eaten by Aaron (High priest) and his sons (descendants) the priests:
The "house of God" is the Sanctuary or Temple of God (Judges 18:31, 20:18,26,31, 21:2; 1 Chronicles 6:48, 24:5, etc.), which in symbolic language, or spiritual understanding, is also the church of God, the body of Christ Jesus (John 2:19; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:21; 1 Peter 2:5, 4:17; 1 Corinthians 3:16,17, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 3:12, 11:1,2, 21:22).
Was "King" David a priest of the line of Levi (Aaron)? No, for David was of Judah (Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Chronicles 2:4-8; 1 Chronicles 4:1; Matthew 1:3; Luke 3:31-33). However, Ahimelech the priest was of the Levite line, and though the bread of the presence was now to be replaced, and old, and to be eaten by Ahimelech and the priests (1 Samuel 22:11-21) present at the time as per the already mentioned scripture of Leviticus 24, Ahimelech showed mercy to "King" David and his men that were with him that were an hungered.
If Ahimelech could show mercy unto "King" David (watched & chased by his enemy that sought to kill him) and his men upon the sabbath day by allowing them to eat the old bread of the presence, even when it was "not lawful", how much more should the Pharisees have shown mercy upon the sabbath day to the real and greater "King" "David" (Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23,24, 37:24,25; Hosea 3:5; then also being sought to be killed by His enemy, the devil) and His men (the disciples) when it was lawful (according to Deuteronomy 23:25), instead of seeking means to destroy Him and them as Saul and Doeg did to the priests of old?
Jesus elsewhere had said:
Ahimelech was merciful, while Saul and Doeg were murderers, constantly watching (1 Samuel 19:11) for David to fail, or slip up, so that he might fall into their grasp to destroy him.
The Pharisees said that what the disciples of Jesus were doing was "not lawful" (Matthew 12:2; Mark 2:4; Luke 6:2), but this was without foundation from the scripture, an therefore all incorrect and merely based upon their man-made traditions, and their hatred of Jesus.
Jesus repeats the words, "not lawful" (Matthew 12:4; Mark 2:26; Luke 6:4) using an actual example of a "not lawful" action from the scripture, in contrast to the Pharisees own personal definition of "not lawful" (Matthew 12:2; Mark 2:4; Luke 6:2). By doing this, Jesus effectively cut off the accusation of sabbath-breaking, or transgression by the disciples, and showed that the Pharisees accusation would have condemned "King" David himself and moreso, their accusation and watching was not in harmony with what was actually written.
Notice, that Christ Jesus did not cite Deuteronomy 23:25 in defense, which He could have done, but instead He went on the attack and turned their (satan's) own argument on its head, using the definition they (satan) provided, "Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?"
The disciples actions were absolutely "lawful" according to sacred cripture. Why then did the Pharisees say it was "not lawful"? It was because they were using a standard that was not found in scripture, but rather was in their man-made oral traditions. They had made their own regulations above the law of God itself. They had exalted the opinion of traditions of men above the word of God, even as satan himself alway attempts to do (Genesis 3; Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28; Revelation 12).
Notice what Jesus now says to the accusers in return. He goes not to Deuteronomy 23:25, as in defense of action, but instead goes on the offensive and straight to the heart of the matter of the sabbath itself, with citing from the scriptures (thus "It is written", instead of the Pharisees, 'heard it said'), two primary examples, so that there would be no room for excuses in case the Pharisees had attempted to justify Exodus 20:8-11 over and above Deuteronomy 23:25, rather than in harmony with it: [1] King (David, later of the throne) and [2] Priest (of the service of God in the Temple) (which the disciples of Christ Jesus are, for we are all kings and priests (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6). Thus, Jesus said:
Mat 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
Mar 2:25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
Luk 6:3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
Mar 2:25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
Luk 6:3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
Jesus first cites the example of "King" David (1 Samuel 16:13; Psalms 89:20):
1Sa 21:1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
1Sa 21:2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
1Sa 21:3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
1Sa 21:2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
1Sa 21:3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
Jesus, referring to this event, then continues and says:
Mat 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
Mar 2:26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
Luk 6:4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
Mar 2:26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
Luk 6:4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
Which refers to the remaning events:
1Sa 21:4 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
1Sa 21:5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
1Sa 21:6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
1Sa 22:10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
1Sa 21:5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
1Sa 21:6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
1Sa 22:10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
There was a law in the scriptures, that Jesus was referring to, that related to events that transpired on the sabbath day, in which the bread of the presence, the bread from the table of shewbread was replaced by fresh bread, every 7th day, and the old bread was to be eaten by Aaron (High priest) and his sons (descendants) the priests:
Lev 24:5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.
Lev 24:6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.
Lev 24:7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 24:8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
Lev 24:9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.
1Ch 9:32 And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.
Lev 24:6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.
Lev 24:7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 24:8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
Lev 24:9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.
1Ch 9:32 And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.
The "house of God" is the Sanctuary or Temple of God (Judges 18:31, 20:18,26,31, 21:2; 1 Chronicles 6:48, 24:5, etc.), which in symbolic language, or spiritual understanding, is also the church of God, the body of Christ Jesus (John 2:19; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:21; 1 Peter 2:5, 4:17; 1 Corinthians 3:16,17, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 3:12, 11:1,2, 21:22).
Was "King" David a priest of the line of Levi (Aaron)? No, for David was of Judah (Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Chronicles 2:4-8; 1 Chronicles 4:1; Matthew 1:3; Luke 3:31-33). However, Ahimelech the priest was of the Levite line, and though the bread of the presence was now to be replaced, and old, and to be eaten by Ahimelech and the priests (1 Samuel 22:11-21) present at the time as per the already mentioned scripture of Leviticus 24, Ahimelech showed mercy to "King" David and his men that were with him that were an hungered.
If Ahimelech could show mercy unto "King" David (watched & chased by his enemy that sought to kill him) and his men upon the sabbath day by allowing them to eat the old bread of the presence, even when it was "not lawful", how much more should the Pharisees have shown mercy upon the sabbath day to the real and greater "King" "David" (Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23,24, 37:24,25; Hosea 3:5; then also being sought to be killed by His enemy, the devil) and His men (the disciples) when it was lawful (according to Deuteronomy 23:25), instead of seeking means to destroy Him and them as Saul and Doeg did to the priests of old?
Jesus elsewhere had said:
Mat_9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mat_12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mat_12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Ahimelech was merciful, while Saul and Doeg were murderers, constantly watching (1 Samuel 19:11) for David to fail, or slip up, so that he might fall into their grasp to destroy him.
The Pharisees said that what the disciples of Jesus were doing was "not lawful" (Matthew 12:2; Mark 2:4; Luke 6:2), but this was without foundation from the scripture, an therefore all incorrect and merely based upon their man-made traditions, and their hatred of Jesus.
Jesus repeats the words, "not lawful" (Matthew 12:4; Mark 2:26; Luke 6:4) using an actual example of a "not lawful" action from the scripture, in contrast to the Pharisees own personal definition of "not lawful" (Matthew 12:2; Mark 2:4; Luke 6:2). By doing this, Jesus effectively cut off the accusation of sabbath-breaking, or transgression by the disciples, and showed that the Pharisees accusation would have condemned "King" David himself and moreso, their accusation and watching was not in harmony with what was actually written.