St Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 5 - 6, The Accusations of the Pharisees

Our paragraph topic is:(The disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath) Pt 3.

Christ continues to instruct the Pharisees in their accusations of the disciples.  The disciples have plucked grain on the Sabbath and eaten it.  The Pharisees witness this act of violation of the Law, according to their interpretations, and bring it to the attention of Christ.  Christ does not respond to their accusations but instead instructs them in the interpretation of the Law.  The Pharisees were the authority on the Law.  They interpreted the Law to their satisfaction to keep the people in line.  They enforced their interpretation of the Law so that they could remain in power and have dominion over the people.  They did not know.  

They did not know that they spoke with the creator of the Law.  They did not know that Christ also knew the Law.  And he kindly and gently instructed them as to their error.  In their rush to judgment they forgot about those parts of the scripture that showed others breaking the law.  In their rush to judgment they forgot about King David breaking the law because he was hungry.  In their rush to judgment they forgot about the priest who brake the law on the Sabbath.  Christ asked them,  "Have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are guiltless?"  

You see, the Pharisees had their own interpretation of the Law.  They interpreted the Law according to their needs and their necessities, to keep the people in line.  This is why Christ said to them,  "But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here."  And with this statement came the shock.  For Christ told them that he was greater than the Temple and that, was considered blasphemy.  No one was greater than the temple except God.  Yet, here was a man, admittedly a man, a rabbi, with great power, but in their eyes, not God.  Yet the statement was out in the open for them to hear in shock and disbelief. 

The Pharisees wanted to align themselves with Christ.  They wanted to be his disciples also.  Because of his great power and miracles they could see that the people were following him and dismissing them.  And now came this statement and the violation of the Law in plain view of their enforcement power.  This was an insult.  This was injury.  This was unforgivable in their eyes.  They were the almighty enforcers of the law.  They were the keepers of the faith.  No one knew the ins and outs of their religion more than they did.  Yet Christ stood in their midst and instructed them on the error of their ways.  He instructed them on the scriptures.  He instructed them on their knowledge.  And there it was, the spirit of arrogance, standing there in their face.  They did not know.

Are you a Pharisee in your church today?  Are you a learned scholar of the scriptures?  Christ wants to instruct you.  Will you listen?  Will you learn?  Or will arrogance stand in your face causing you to be blinded to the truth?  Christ brought the good news to earth so that the people would know how to live.  Christ brought us the good news so that we would know how to forgive.  Christ brought us the good news so that we would know how to love one another.  Yet we still do not understand.  There is but one teacher.  There is but one preacher.  All others are merely shepherds leading the flock to the teacher.  And the Divine Helper teaches all.  Will you seek the wisdom of Christ?  Will you seek the humility of Christ?  Will you seek Christ's love for one and all?  For through it and with it and of it we are transformed into aliens not from this world.  For the Holy Spirit will convict.  The Holy Spirit will transform.  The Holy Spirit will reward.  The Holy Spirit will assign you your task in the workforce of Christ.  Will you seek Him?  Will you learn from Him?  Will you know Him?  I have and I do!

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 3-4, The Accusations of the Pharisees

Our paragraph topic is:(The disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath) Part 2.

On this sunny day Christ and his disciples and all the followers walked through a field of grain.  The disciples are hungry, so they pick the grain and eat it.  It is the Sabbath and according to the Law, one is not supposed to work on the Sabbath because it is the Lord's day and all should rest.  The Pharisees, who also followed Christ, see this transgression and bring it to his attention 
demanding that he do something about this transgression. 

They did not know.  They told the creator of the law about what was lawful.  They did not know.  They told the creator of the law what he should or should not do.  They did not know.  In their arrogance they told the creator of the law that he was wrong in allowing this act to take place.  They demanded that, as a teacher, he do something about this act of breaking the law of the Sabbath.  They wanted to know that Christ was going to exact punish upon his disciples for breaking the law of the Sabbath.  They, did not know.  They only wanted the satisfaction that the teachings of Christ aligned with what they were enforcing upon the people in order to maintain their positions of power and authority. 

The creator of the law was gentle.  The creator of the law was kind.  The creator of the law brought them to understand the true meaning of the law.  Christ said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?  How he entered the house of God, and ate the loaves of proposition which neither he nor those with him could lawfully eat, but only the priests?"     

Christ referred them back to the Law.  He took them back to scripture to remind them of their history.  He was gentle.  He was kind.  He was understanding.  Christ knew that the Pharisees had their own interpretation of the scriptures that was used to keep the people in line.  He knew that the interpretation of the scriptures was two sided, one for the people and one for the Pharisees.  So he schooled them.  He brought them back to their roots that they would see that he knew what they knew.  King David ate the loaves of proposition from the house of God because he was hungry.  King David and all that followed him broke the Law because they had no food to eat.  And David was greater than these little ones who were hungry.  David was the king chosen by God to lead the people.  David broke the law and God did not punish him so why should these be punished.

Christ schools us today the same way.  He is gentle.  He is kind.  He is loving in his guidance to us.  Yet the Pharisees of our churches would have us punished.  The Pharisees who watch over us would bring fire and brimstone upon us for our transgressions.  Are you a Pharisee in your church?  Are you a keeper of the law in your church, looking for every opportunity to speak the law to your fellow parishioners?  Are you so high and mighty that you have forgotten that you too are a sinner?  Are you so quick to preach to others that you have forgotten what lowly place you come from?  Christ gave you the Bible to learn from.  Christ gave you the scriptures to keep in your heart, not to beat others with your mouth.  The source of all humility and obedience calls you to be humble.  The source of all love calls you to love.  The spirit of unity calls you to unite and not to separate.  For Christ is one with the Father.  Will you become one with him and understand the true meaning of love?

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 1-2, The Accusations of the Pharisees

Our paragraph topic is:(The disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath) Part 1.

Christ and the disciples have moved on from their previous location and are walking through a field of grain.  The disciples, being simple Jewish people, for they were all Jews, were hungry and did pluck grain from the plants that they were walking through.  They knew the law about working on the Sabbath.  They knew the punishment that was exacted by the Pharisees for those who broke the law.  For the Pharisees were the keepers of the law handed down by Moses to the people of Israel.  But they were the disciples of Christ and they were hungry and there was food to eat before them and they eat.

But the Pharisees who were, in their own eyes, the true believers, saw this act as breaking the laws of God.  They saw this as an act of treason on the part of a teacher sent by God and they would not stand by and allow it to happen.  So they protested to Christ.  They brought it to his attention.  St Matthew tells us, "But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, "Thy disciples are doing what it is not lawful for them to do on the Sabbath."

They told the creator of the law about what was lawful.  They told the creator of the law what he should or should not do.  In their arrogance they told the creator of the law that he was wrong in allowing this act to take place.  They demanded that, as a teacher, he do something about this act of breaking the law of the Sabbath.  They wanted to know that Christ was going to exact punish upon his disciples for breaking the law of the Sabbath.  They, did not know.  They only wanted their satisfaction that his teachings aligned with what they were enforcing upon the people in order to maintain their positions of power and authority. 

The Pharisees followed Christ.  They recognized that he had great power.  They wanted to know who he was.  They wanted to align themselves with his teachings so that they could continue to have their positions of authority.  For they were the enforcers of the Law.  They were the keepers of the Law and everyone who did not follow the Law were punished.  The disciples knew the laws concerning the Sabbath.  But when the Pharisees were not around to enforce the laws, the people, like the disciples, did as they pleased.  They did not follow the strict interpretation of the law as laid down by the enforcers.  For the Pharisees believed that through strict enforcement they were able to control the people.  They believed that through harsh punishment issued to those who broke the law, they could keep the people in line and thereby keep their positions of power.  So they used the law as their yoke upon the people.  They used the law as their basis of authority and their means of control.  It was the Jewish heritage that kept them in authority and their interpretation of the Law handed down by Moses.

We have Pharisees today in our churches.  We have those who know the Bible and use it to keep the people in line.  The Pharisees of today will punish you when you get out of line.  They will beat you up with the scriptures when you do wrong.  They will bring down fire and brimstone upon you and create guilt in your life to keep you in line with the teachings, as they see  them and understand them.  Many times the pharisees in our churches are aligned with the chief priest, the pastor, and together they rule the flock to keep them in line.  They preach fire and brimstone and fear and guilt and doubt so that the congregation will live in awe of the teachings.  And as a result the congregation live in spiritual limbo never knowing the true love of Christ.  The congregation live in a continuing battle with sin never winning and never knowing the power in Christ to conquer sin.  The congregation lives under the dictatorial rule of the chief priest and the pharisees. 

Do you live under the rule of the chief priest and the pharisees in your church?  Are you beaten into compliance by those who would use the Bible to create fear and guilt in your life?  Christ did not preach fear and doubt.  Christ does not seek guilt in your life.  Christ seeks your love.  Christ seeks your understanding.  Christ wants to teach each and every one of us his principles for they are light and his yoke is easy.  For he is meek and humble.  Christ wants us to know him, have a relationship with him and to carry him in our heart.  And when we fail, he does not condemn us.  He reaches out a helping hand to lift you up that you may know the true love that he bares for you.  Do not be a pharisee in your church.  Be Christ like in your church, lending a helping hand to those who fall.  For though we practice the principles given us by God, we are all, human and not perfect and do not live perfect lives.  If Christ can forgive us for our faults, we should forgive others of their faults and failures also.  Be Christ like and not a Pharisee!!