Love is the New Law (Matthew 12: 1–14) (Archive)

📨 THEKNGDOM | January 11th, 2025 (Archive)

Title: “Love is the New Law”

Subtitle: In the Kingdom, law bows to love — because mercy was always the point.

Passage 📖:  Matthew 12:1–14 (ESV)

Date: January 11th, 2025

📺 Want to watch the full teaching? Click here to view the January 11th, 2025 Lesson.

👋 Introduction to Today’s Lesson

If last week was about rethinking who Jesus reveals the Kingdom to, this week is about rethinking how we live in that Kingdom.

Jesus finds Himself once again in conflict with the religious leaders — but this time, it’s about the Sabbath. His disciples are hungry, so they pluck heads of grain while walking through a field. Later, He heals a man with a paralyzed hand. In both moments, the Pharisees accuse Him of breaking the law.

But Jesus isn’t just defending Himself.

He’s confronting an entire way of thinking.

He’s challenging the way we interpret Scripture, the way we carry authority, and the way we understand what God truly desires.

This week, we’re asking:

• What was the Sabbath really about?
  

• Have we made sacred things burdensome?
  

• And how do we make sure we’re living out God’s heart — not just His rules?

Let’s dive in.

⏪ Recap of Last Week’s Lesson (Matthew 11:25–30)

Last week, we explored a deeply personal moment in Jesus’ ministry — when He thanks the Father for hiding the Kingdom from the “wise” and revealing it to “little children.”

We talked about how spiritual insight often comes not through intellect, but through humility. And how the weight of religion and expectation can make us weary — but Jesus invites us into rest.

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened,” He said, “and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

We asked:

Are we living under burdens Jesus never asked us to carry?

And are we humble enough to receive what God reveals?

Read and watch the Jan 4th, 2025, by clicking. 

📖 Scripture: Matthew 12:1–14 (ESV)

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue.

10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him.

11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

🧭 Context & Background

This passage sits at a major turning point in Matthew’s Gospel. The confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees has been steadily escalating — and now it explodes into direct conflict over the law itself.

But this isn’t just about a law.

It’s about the heart behind it.

🕊️ What the Sabbath Was Meant to Be

The Sabbath was never just a rule. It was a gift.

Rooted in Genesis and reiterated in the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath was a rhythm of rest woven into creation. It reminded Israel — fresh out of 400 years of slavery in Egypt — that they were not machines made for work. They were image-bearers made for worship, joy, and communion with God.

Sabbath was meant to be a pattern break — a day to rest, delight, and remember that everything they had came from God. But over time, religious leaders added layer upon layer of restriction, turning a day of joy into a day of scrutiny.

By Jesus’ day, the Sabbath had become burdensome — more about rule-keeping than restoration.

So when Jesus heals on the Sabbath or lets His disciples eat grain, He’s not dismissing the Sabbath.

He’s reclaiming it.

“The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matt. 12:8)

He’s saying: I authored this gift. I know what it’s for. And you’ve missed the point.

🍞 David, Bread, and Mercy Over Sacrifice

To make His case, Jesus references David — Israel’s most beloved king — who once broke the law to eat consecrated bread. No one condemned him because his actions served a higher purpose: preserving life.

Jesus uses this to show that mercy always outweighs ritual. Rules are never meant to starve people. They’re meant to serve people.

“If you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” (Matt. 12:7)

Jesus is quoting Hosea — echoing God’s consistent theme throughout Scripture: Obedience without compassion is empty.

✋ Healing on the Sabbath

When Jesus heals the man with the withered hand, it’s not just about compassion — it’s about authority.

The Pharisees ask, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” They already know their answer.

But Jesus responds with piercing logic: If you’d rescue your sheep on the Sabbath, why wouldn’t you rescue a human being?

In this moment, Jesus exposes how twisted their priorities have become. Their obsession with order has blinded them to the value of people.

🌾 The Bigger Conflict

This passage is not just about the Sabbath.

It’s about how we relate to God, how we wield truth, and what kind of kingdom we’re actually building.

Jesus isn’t abolishing the law — He’s fulfilling it.

And He’s showing us that the true measure of holiness is not rigid rule-keeping — it’s love in action.

✨ Key Takeaways

1️⃣ The Law Was Meant to Liberate, Not Oppress

From the beginning, God’s laws were given to free people — not to trap them. The Sabbath, in particular, was a divine gift rooted in rest, rhythm, and restoration. But by the time of Jesus, it had become weaponized — a burden instead of a blessing.

Jesus reminds us that when law is used to withhold compassion, it has already failed its purpose.

So ask yourself:

• Am I clinging to the letter of God’s Word while missing the spirit behind it?
  

• Have I turned something that was meant to give life… into something that steals it?
  

Because in the Kingdom, rules are never more sacred than people. And if our convictions cause harm — we need to return to the heart of God.

2️⃣ Mercy Is the Measure of Maturity

When Jesus says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” He isn’t being soft on sin. He’s elevating the kind of worship that moves God most: compassion.

The Pharisees were experts in sacrifice. They knew the rituals, the Scriptures, the tradition. But when a man with a shriveled hand stood in front of them — they saw a test case, not a human soul.

Jesus saw someone worth healing.

And so should we.

Spiritual maturity isn’t proven by how strictly we follow rules — it’s shown by how tenderly we extend mercy.

So before we measure someone’s holiness…

Before we quote a verse or make a judgment…

Let’s ask:

Is this leading me closer to mercy — or away from it?

Because if our spirituality isn’t merciful, it’s not Christlike.

3️⃣ Rest Is a Practice of Trust

When Jesus declares Himself “Lord of the Sabbath,” He’s not just correcting doctrine — He’s inviting us to rethink how we live.

The Sabbath was never about checking out for a day.

It was about checking in with God.

It was about remembering that we are not slaves. Not to work. Not to worry. Not to proving our worth through performance.

That’s why Jesus invites the weary to come to Him — not just for rest, but for reorientation.

True rest is an act of resistance in a world that worships hustle and glorifies exhaustion.

And it’s not found in a perfect schedule — but in a surrendered heart.

So the question is:

• Have we turned our relationship with God into another checklist?
  

• Or are we willing to slow down, step back, and let Him carry the weight?
  

Because rest isn’t just a break from work.

It’s a declaration:

“I trust You more than I trust my own effort.”

Final Word

This passage isn’t just about Sabbath rules or dietary exceptions.

It’s about Jesus reclaiming the heart of the law — and in doing so, reclaiming the heart of the people it was meant to protect.

The Pharisees had memorized Scripture, but they missed its point.

They prized obedience, but lost compassion.

They could quote the prophets, but couldn’t recognize the one the prophets foretold — standing right in front of them.

And maybe the same risk exists for us.

Because it’s easier to manage laws than to extend love.

It’s easier to regulate behavior than to repair brokenness.

It’s easier to feel right than to do good.

But Jesus won’t let us settle for hollow religion.

He flips the system.

He restores the man.

He reminds us: “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Which means He gets the final say — not just on theology, but on how we treat people, how we define holiness, and how we think about rest.

Because the goal was never just correctness.

It was wholeness.

And Jesus still wants to make us whole.

Blessings, 

Michael

Challenge of the Week

This week, take time to reflect not just on what you believe — but how you live it out.

• Are there ways you’ve turned something God meant for freedom… into a burden for yourself or others?
  

• Where might Jesus be inviting you to choose mercy over sacrifice — relationship over rules?

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any places where your life resembles the Pharisees more than the Savior — and let Him reorient your heart around what truly matters.

Because in the Kingdom, love is the law — and Jesus is the Lord of it.