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Matthew 12:12 “So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Due to ignorance of Jewish Law in the days of the Master, many have erroneously deprived themselves of one of the most beautiful gifts God gave to mankind: the Sabbath. Most people, when reading the controversies between Yeshua and the Judean leadership conclude that Yeshua either abrogated not only the Sabbath but the whole Torah, or that He nullified the Jewish interpretation of Sabbath observance in favor of a more ‘mature’ sola-scriptura approach. Deeper readings though quickly prove both these notions wrong. The problem with reading the Bible is that many understand it anachronistically. They put into their reading of these events the whole Jew vs Christian and Law vs Grace conflicts which actually did not exist yet in the days of the Master. If Yeshua abrogated the Torah He couldn’t be the Jewish Messiah, and whereas He had authority to teach the right way to practice it, He did not move the ancient landmark that the fathers had set (Proverbs 22:28). Of the traditional teachings of His days He actually said, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you--but not what they do (Matthew 23:2). Through these words, Yeshua may not have agreed with their practices, but condoned their teachings. Having been a first-born, as a young man Yeshua studied the traditions and He was well aware of them. He knew that according to Jewish Law, life and death superseded commandment obedience. Moved by the great compassion of the Father (Exodus 34:6-7), Yeshua could also argue that the alleviating of human suffering was acceptable on the Sabbath. Last but not least, having done His homework, Yeshua also understood that in Jewish Law, when a positive commandment (you shall …) and a negative commandment (you shall not ...) conflict, the positive supersedes the negative one. Based on this accepted legal understanding, Yeshua could argue that the positive commandment of showing mercy, in this case by healing, overrides the Sabbatical prohibition to work. In this way, Yeshua neither broke the Sabbath, the Torah, nor brought anarchy in the country by undermining spiritual leadership which is actually an abomination to God (Proverbs 6:16-19). In asking whether or not it was permitted to do good on the Sabbath, Yeshua reminded the Judean leadership of their own teachings. Sabbath observance is an anticipation of the World to Come, of the age when Messiah will reign on earth. It will be the time when Mercy will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. We can live this anticipation today by following the Master‘s example and do good on the Sabbath. May we spend God’s day with our children, friends and relatives, but may we also keep our eyes open for the blessing of doing ‘good’ on the Sabbath. Shabbat shalom!
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Sabbath, Shabbat, Talmud, Jewish Law, suffering,
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