WINTER QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2013-2014

THEME: JESUS AND THE JUST REIGN OF GOD

Unit One: God Sends Jesus

“THE KING DEMONSTRATES HIS LORDSHIP

OVER THE SABBATH”

Sunday School Lesson No. VI – January 5, 2014

Lesson Presented by Rev. Frank A. Davis, III, Pastor-Teacher

Lesson Text: Luke 6:1-11

Required Reading: Luke 6:1-11; Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23 – 3:6

Motto Text: Luke 6:5 (NKJV), “And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Reliable Resources: Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator; Precepts for Living (UMI); Standard Commentary; Logos Bible Software; Word Search 10 Electronic Library; H. L. Willmington’s Outline Bible; Life Application Bible (NIV); Rightly Dividing Luke by E. L. Bynum; Children’s Ministry Resource Bible (Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Introduction (by Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator):

“Jesus was thoroughly Jewish, and He kept God’s commandments for the Jewish people such as the Sabbath. He attended synagogue on the Sabbath in keeping with the way it was observed in His time. Yet He became involved in disputes with other Jewish groups about what was and was not permitted on the Sabbath. The Bible does not give complete guidelines for what is to be considered work on the Sabbath. Jesus used the Sabbath as an occasion for teaching not only with His words but also with His actions. Those who came to observe and criticize Him found that they were not able to defeat Him with arguments.

The themes of healing and the Sabbath came together in Luke 6:1-11. There is more to the Sabbath than Jesus’ opponents understood. There is more to Jesus than they understood. The Sabbath was and is a sign between Israel and God. It stands for rest in God’s power. Only Jesus truly understood what the Sabbath was all about, and He left us an enduring lesson.”

But what is the Sabbath? According to Children’s Resource Study Bible, Exodus 20:8-11: “The Sabbath day was holy and reminded Israel that time was a gift from God. Everything God created in Genesis He called good, but the Sabbath alone He hallowed (set apart for Himself).”

“THE KING DEMONSTRATES HIS LORDSHIP OVER THE SABBATH”

Anticipated Power Points:

·  His Confident Lordship over the Sabbath. Luke 6:1-5

·  His Compassionate Litigation of the Sabbath. Luke 6:6-11

LESSON OUTLINE EXPOSITION

I. His Confident Lordship over the Sabbath. Luke 6:1-5

According to Dr. Warren Wiersbe: “It was legal for people to pluck grain from a neighbor’s field and eat it, but they could not use a sickle (Deut. 23:25). In allowing His disciples to do this on the Sabbath, Jesus once again violated the traditions of the elders.” Note:

A. The accusation against the Lord. vss. 1-2

B. The illumination of the Lord. vss. 3-4

C. The revelation of the Lord. vs. 5

Wiersbe again shares: “Just previously, He (Jesus) had healed a man on the Sabbath (John 5), and this angered the religious leaders even more. Our Lord’s defense was simple: He was Lord of the Sabbath, and the King is not restricted by man’s traditions. His example from the life of David bore this out (I Sam. 21:1-9). Jesus was again claiming to be Son of David, the Lord, the Messiah. He wanted to give the people a new Sabbath of rest (Matt. 11:28-30), but they would not receive it.”

Beloved, even in our modern churches today, we deify furniture, programs and people. We make Christians slaves to objects, things and programs. Jesus came to fulfill all the laws of God and above all, set the captives free not to sin but to earnestly and honestly serve Him with gladness and rest in His Lordship!

II. His Compassionate Litigation of the Sabbath. Luke 6:6-11

The seeking and searching of religious leaders continued as they sought to prove that Jesus was a blasphemer of their laws (traditions) as related to the Sabbath. In Matthew 12:1-8 and Mark 2:23 – 3:6, we see another account of the Pharisees’ religious bigotry. Jesus is in a synagogue service in which these leaders also attended, but for different reasons. Everything that Jesus did, He did to glorify God the Father and show God’s compassion towards mankind. There was in attendance a man with a deformed right hand. Surely this was a hindrance to the man’s total livelihood. Jesus noticed and questioned the religious leaders as to what was right or best to do on the Sabbath day or any day for that matter. The verses present themselves in this light:

A. The caring Christ. vss. 6, 8, 10

B. The callous counsellors. vss. 7, 9, 11

Beloved, which side should we be standing on? Of course, it would be the side of the caring Christ. He gave a compassionate litigation of God’s law concerning the Sabbath that could be summed up as follows. In Mark 2:27-28 we find, “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” Jesus litigated His case using the analogy of a trapped animal and a fallen man. Surely a human being is worth more than an animal on any day of the week. (Read Matthew 12:11-12). Dr. Warren Wiersbe summarizes this scripture in this way: “When traditions become more important than people, the tradition must be examined and changed. As a result of this miracle, Jesus was hated even more…”

Beloved, verse 9 leaves us with questions that must be properly and compassionately answered. It is always right to do right! Let us not look for excuses or even religious reasons to cheapen the value of human beings in the sight of God over religious practices. Jesus is the King and Lord over the Sabbath and everything!

Closing:

Hebrews 13:16 tells us, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Now remember, “If I can help somebody, then my living will not be in vain!”

THE KING DEMONSTRATES HIS LORDSHIP OVER THE SABBATH

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Looking Ahead: January 12, 2014 Luke 6:17-31

NOONDAY AND EVENING BIBLE STUDY WILL RESUME ON JANUARY 8, 2014. SEE YOU THEN!!!

Pastor Davis prays that you will have a blessed New Year!