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Reactions to Jesus’ Teaching and Healing

Wayne Galloway
06/08/25 - Sunday Evening Worship

Series: Studies in Luke

8 Studies In Luke

Reactions to Jesus’ Teaching and Healing

Lk. 6:1-7:1

 

Introduction:

 

1.  Already in our previous studies we have observed that there have been various reactions to Jesus.

2.  He is preaching the Kingdom of God.  He teaches with an authority characterized by miracles of healing, casting out demons and healing the sick.  He is collecting a special following. He associates with tax collectors and sinners.  He seems to pay little attention to the traditions of the Pharisees and scribes.  This has caused a great deal of disturbance in Galilee, so much so, that in Nazareth the people of his hometown sought to throw him off a cliff.

3.  Luke continues the story in chapter 6 describing first the reaction of some Pharisees, then the selection of 12 apostles from His disciples, and finally giving us an example of His teaching in verses 20ff.

 

Discussion:

 

I.  The Sabbath, of course, was the high day of the Jewish week.  Since the giving of the ten commandments (Ex. 20) it was the day labor stopped, and the day was devoted to the Lord.  Various interpretations and traditions had developed around this day.  While it had been neglected during the days of idolatry, now after the Babylonian captivity, strict emphasis was placed on its observance.  Strict interpretations were given regarding the particulars of what was defined as work.  The two events described here reflect on difficult details of what should and should not be done on the Sabbath.

 

    A.  In the first instance Jesus’ disciples were passing through some grainfields and were 

          picking the heads of grain and eating them (6:1-5).

          1.  The Pharisees condemn this practice as unlawful.

          2.  They are not condemning them for stealing the farmer’s grain (cf. Deut. 23:25), but 

                probably for working (thrashing) on the Sabbath day.

          3.  Interestingly, Jesus sites what David did in 1 Sam. 21:6 when he took the 

               consecrated bread that was reserved for the priests.  The Pharisees probably 

               interpreted this as a legitimate action given the circumstances.  I am not sure that 

              Jesus is making a statement about whether or not David was acting legitimately.  He 

              is probably just acknowledging their interpretation of the matter.

        4.  But then He places Himself as ultimate interpreter.  “The Son of Man is Lord of the 

              Sabbath.”  Notice that He makes no argument about whether the disciples are right 

              or wrong in their practice.  He does not engage them as one might expect.  They 

              have interpreted the disciple’s action as unlawful.  Jesus, in effect says, “No matter,    

              I am Lord of the Sabbath.”  He quotes no O.T. passage.  Provides no reasoning from 

              them.  Raises no interpretive questions about them.  Just states, “I am Lord of the 

              Sabbath.”  If you are a Pharisee, what do you do with that??

         5.  He has made the issue a question about WHO He is.

   B.  Luke continues with another incident on a Sabbath day (6-11).

         1.  He is teaching in the synagogue.

         2.  A man has a right hand that is withered.

         3.  The scribes and Pharisees watch to see if He would heal on the Sabbath day.

                I suppose that they thought it would be wrong for Him to.  They planned to accuse 

                Him.

          4.  He makes a public issue out of healing the man.  He has the man come forward.  

                He asked them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life 

                or to destroy it?”  He looked around at all of them.  Then healed the man.

          5.  Their response is rage and they discussed what they might do to Jesus.

 

III.  Luke now has Him spending the night in prayer before selecting 12 apostles from the disciples (12-19).

 

      A.  “Good time to go off into the mountain to pray,” you say.  But it seems that He is not 

            doing this to escape from the scribes and Pharisees and any plans they might be 

            developing.

     B.  It seems that the praying is probably about the selection of the 12.

     C.  After the selection, he came down to a level place and a throng was there from 

            Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre and Sidon.  Tyre and Sidon are Gentile areas.

            1.  They are there to hear him and to be healed.

            2.  They were being healed.

            3.  “Power was coming from Him and He was healing them all.”

 

IV.  It was out of this context He turned to the disciples and gave what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount (20-40).

 

      A.  This is an example of His teaching.  No such example, except maybe the incident at 

             Nazareth, gives us a record of exactly what He said. This is the first sample of His 

             teaching.

              1.  It begins with a series of blessings that are somewhat odd.  I mean who would 

                    say, “Happy (blessed) are the poor,”  “Blessed arethe hungry,” “Blessed are the 

                    weeping,”  “Blessed are the hated”?

              2.  Who would pronounce woes on the rich, the well-fed, the laughing, those well-

                    spoken of??

              3.  The second part of His sermon is about love (27-45).

              4.  He concludes with a statement about doing what He says illustrating it with an 

                    analogy of two men building houses.  One with a foundation, one without (46-49).

          B.  Luke concludes in 7:1:  “When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing 

                of the people, He went to Capernaum.”

 

Conclusion:

 

1.  To say the least, what is happening is fascinating.

2.  Jesus claims to be “Lord of the Sabbath.”  He heals on the Sabbath.  He is unconventional.  His mission seems to be enlarging with the selection of apostles.

3.  He is an interesting teacher expressing things in challenging ways.  His focus on love and how to execute it is both insightful and challenging.

4.  The way He calls on us to do what He says implies authority.

5.  If you had been one of His disciples and He did not select you for one of the 12 how would you have felt?  If you were one of the Pharisees interpreting the Sabbath how would you have responded to His statement, “I am Lord of the Sabbath?”  If you had heard his sermon would you have acted on it or no?