Let’s consider the reading below. The Law of the Sabbath was that no one could or ought to do work. You should keep the day holy — which means separate. The Law says it applied to those who lived in Isreal, regardless of status — it included slaves. And animals.
Now, there were a whole pile of traditions and customs placed around this with good reason. The scholars worked by exegesis and precedent. But they lost the aim of the Sabbath.
It was to allow us to rest, not to be a burden.
And losing the reason for the law… for tradition, offends God. We worship tradition, and not God. And that — particularly attributing the tradition to God — is blasphemous.
Luke 6:1-11
1One sabbath while Jesus was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. 2But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” 3Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?” 5Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”6On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. 8Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” He got up and stood there. 9Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” 10After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. 11But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
via Daily Lectionary Readings — Devotions and Readings — Ministries & Programs — GAMC.
