Luke 6:1 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.
As a rule follower, part of me really feels I understand the Pharisees. As someone who loves Jesus, part of me definitely does not understand them at all. But I am, essentially, an “armchair quarterback,” assessing the game from the replay videos after it’s over. I know how it ends. Jesus IS God. He IS sovereign. The Pharisees didn’t trust that, didn’t believe that.
Luke 6:2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
Or maybe they were just so tied to their religious customs and rules and “the way things have always been,” that they can’t see clearly who Jesus is. Or maybe they got caught up in the notion that the Messiah would be a warrior, dominating battles, defeating the Roman rulers to win the ultimate battle *on earth.* That’s not who Jesus is. And the Pharisees missed knowing Him because they couldn’t let go of what they thought *should* be.
Luke 6:3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
Precious Savior, You know that I am so bad for falling into what I think *should* be, what I think *should* happen, what I think I *should* do, You *should* do, others *should* do. The Pharisees missed You entirely because they could not get past the *shoulds*. I do not want that to be my fate. Help me lay aside all of my *shoulds* and focus solely on You. Help me, Jesus. Amen.
Luke 6:4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Have a blessed day.