Religion builds fences. Jesus kicks them down

[David]

The struggle in Matthew 12 is not really about Sabbath keeping. The struggle is between obeying Scripture or simply guarding it. Jesus says to men confident in their knowledge of the Bible, “If ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless” ~Matthew 12:7. They know the letter of the law, but not God’s will as revealed in Scripture.

Then Jesus presses them further forcing them into the open by asking, “Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?” ~Matthew 12:10. Silence is their reply. For obedience that rejects mercy is revealed as evil. When Jesus heals the man we see the fruit of their religion, “The Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him” ~Matthew 12:14.

Matthew even tells us this reaction fulfilled Scripture. Christ is that Servant who will not break the bruised reed, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench” ~Matthew 12:20. The same Jesus who binds up the broken in Spirit will relentlessly confront religious obstinacy. Jesus has authority, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day” ~Matthew 12:8.

Are you obeying Scripture as Christ explains it, or are you merely defending a form of righteousness that casts aside mercy while grasping for God’s law?

Full study: Know the Bible

 

[bobinfaith]

Hello David;

Well said, and thank you for sharing! Just my thoughts:

Religion, or believers in Christ build fences for leaning on each other, to avoid temptation and encourage faith.

Matthew 12 is not about Sabbath keeping. I like your point;

"The struggle is between obeying Scripture or simply guarding it. Jesus says to men confident in their knowledge of the Bible, “If ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless” ~Matthew 12:7. They know the letter of the law, but not God’s will as revealed in Scripture."

If we were to "avoid" building fences on the Sabbath what kind of message does this send to the growing believer in need of a brother or sister? Doesn't that then become a "lack of mercy?"

Could we say the Pharisees condemning the disciples was meant for Jesus to use them as examples in the Gospels, to love, refute and teach all? Some of the Pharisees and teachers appeared sincere and asked Jesus for a sign. He would point out they were not ready because of their hypocrisy.

Matthew 12 definitely gives us all much to think about in these times.

God bless you, David.

Bob

 

[David]

Hello David;

Well said, and thank you for sharing! Just my thoughts:

Religion, or believers in Christ build fences for leaning on each other, to avoid temptation and encourage faith.

Matthew 12 is not about Sabbath keeping. I like your point;

"The struggle is between obeying Scripture or simply guarding it. Jesus says to men confident in their knowledge of the Bible, “If ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless” ~Matthew 12:7. They know the letter of the law, but not God’s will as revealed in Scripture."

If we were to "avoid" building fences on the Sabbath what kind of message does this send to the growing believer in need of a brother or sister? Doesn't that then become a "lack of mercy?"

Could we say the Pharisees condemning the disciples was meant for Jesus to use them as examples in the Gospels, to love, refute and teach all? Some of the Pharisees and teachers appeared sincere and asked Jesus for a sign. He would point out they were not ready because of their hypocrisy.

Matthew 12 definitely gives us all much to think about in these times.

God bless you, David.

Bob

I agree that believers should encourage one another and help each other flee temptation. Scripture is clear on that. “Exhort one another daily” ~Hebrews 3:13, and “Bear ye one another’s burdens” ~Galatians 6:2. That kind of mutual care is not what Jesus rebukes in Matthew 12.

What He confronts is something different. The Pharisees were not building supports for holiness. They were enforcing man-made boundaries that Scripture itself did not command, then condemning the innocent by those standards. Jesus does not say they lacked compassion in application. He says they lacked understanding of Scripture itself. “If ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless” ~Matthew 12:7.

The problem was not concern for obedience. It was elevating fence-keeping above God’s revealed will. When rules become the measure of righteousness, mercy becomes optional and people become expendable. Jesus exposes this by asking whether it is lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath ~Matthew 12:10. Their silence proves the issue. They valued rule-defense more than obedience to God’s heart revealed in His Word.

As for the Pharisees being used as teaching examples, Scripture shows that Jesus did teach through them, but not because their actions were sincere. He says plainly that they were hypocrites ~Matthew 12:15–21, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of a gentle Servant contrasted with hardened opposition. Some individuals later believed, but Matthew 12 presents them as men resisting truth, not seekers temporarily misunderstood.

So yes, believers should encourage one another. But when fences go beyond Scripture and are used to accuse, restrain, or judge where God has not spoken, they stop serving righteousness. Jesus reminds us why His authority matters here. “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day” ~Matthew 12:8. He alone defines obedience.

Matthew 12 presses every reader with the same question. Are we helping people obey God as He has spoken, or are we guarding a system that feels safe while quietly condemning the guiltless?

 

[Yesua888]

The struggle in Matthew 12 is not really about Sabbath keeping ...

Full study: Know the Bible Thank you, a Beautiful read and getting to understand Jesu's intensions ... not man-made interpretations and man-made religious traditions

 

[Denise60]

I agree that believers should encourage one another and help each other flee temptation. Scripture is clear on that. “Exhort one another daily” ~Hebrews 3:13, and “Bear ye one another’s burdens” ~Galatians 6:2. That kind of mutual care is not what Jesus rebukes in Matthew 12.

What He confronts is something different. The Pharisees were not building supports for holiness. They were enforcing man-made boundaries that Scripture itself did not command, then condemning the innocent by those standards. Jesus does not say they lacked compassion in application. He says they lacked understanding of Scripture itself. “If ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless” ~Matthew 12:7.

The problem was not concern for obedience. It was elevating fence-keeping above God’s revealed will. When rules become the measure of righteousness, mercy becomes optional and people become expendable. Jesus exposes this by asking whether it is lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath ~Matthew 12:10. Their silence proves the issue. They valued rule-defense more than obedience to God’s heart revealed in His Word.

As for the Pharisees being used as teaching examples, Scripture shows that Jesus did teach through them, but not because their actions were sincere. He says plainly that they were hypocrites ~Matthew 12:15–21, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of a gentle Servant contrasted with hardened opposition. Some individuals later believed, but Matthew 12 presents them as men resisting truth, not seekers temporarily misunderstood.

So yes, believers should encourage one another. But when fences go beyond Scripture and are used to accuse, restrain, or judge where God has not spoken, they stop serving righteousness. Jesus reminds us why His authority matters here. “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day” ~Matthew 12:8. He alone defines obedience.

Matthew 12 presses every reader with the same question. Are we helping people obey God as He has spoken, or are we guarding a system that feels safe while quietly condemning the guiltless?

yes brother very true