In today’s Gospel Jesus applies the prophetic message of Isaiah and Hosea to a practical question of what can be done on the Sabbath. Last week Hosea proclaimed that “God desires mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6) and this past Monday Isaiah proclaimed, “Though you pray the more, I will not listen…Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the window.” (Isaiah 1:15, 17).
Jesus applies these principles of justice and mercy to justify the actions of his disciples. The disciples were hungry and therefore picked the heads of grain to eat. Some of the Pharisees accused these disciples of doing work by their actions and thus doing something that was “unlawful to do on the sabbath.” Jesus, instead of getting into a debate into what exactly constitutes “work” on the Sabbath, calls them to the purpose of any of these rules, laws, or traditions. The purpose of these traditions should always lead us to discern and to do the desire or will of God. Jesus’ response is simply, his disciples are hungry, show some compassion. Jesus then quotes the words of Hosea: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6:6). Jesus tells them, “If you knew what this meant…you would not have condemned these innocent men.” God’s will is for us to show mercy and compassion to all and not to be quick to judge and condemn.
Jesus explicitly stated this teaching in his Sermon on the Mount: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-3).
In today’s passage Jesus is challenging us to never allow our customs or traditions to neglect love, compassion, and mercy because God desires mercy and not sacrifice. May God’s will be done!
Image: “Disciples Plucking Grain” Generated by Magnific using AI.