The Son of Man’s Authority Over the Sabbath

The Son of Man’s Authority Over the Sabbath
Luke 6:1-11
March 30, 2025

In three weeks, we will remember the most important aspects of Christ as we gather to meditate on His death on Good Friday and celebrate His resurrection on Easter morning.  What happened on those days 2000 years ago is the foundation of our faith and it is our great encouragement and hope. 

But despite the death and resurrection of Christ, not everyone believes in Christ. 

• Several years ago an article was published accusing God of “divine child abuse” in crucifying Christ.
• Another writer about the same time said, “It is a mistake to identify atonement as the central Christian doctrine, although it is central to the Pauline tradition, to First Peter, Hebrews, First John, and Revelation…” (And the Gospels, and Acts, and…)
• Nineteenth century French poet Charles Baudelarie wrote, “If there is a God, he is the devil.”
• These sentiments have long “traditions” — the Talmud said of Jesus, “‘Jesus the Nazarene was hanged’ because he ‘practiced sorcery and instigated and seduced Israel to idolatry’ [Sanhedrin 43a]; that he ‘[paid] too much attention to [an] inn-keeper’s wife’ and turned to idolatry (worshiping a fish) when his rabbi was slow to forgive him after he pointed out that the innkeeper’s wife’s eyes were ‘narrow’ [Sanhedrin 107b] and that his mother was an adulteress [Sanhedrin 67a].” [MacArthur, The Gospel of God.]
• And we know that these rejections originated in the NT: even during His ministry, He was accused of being conceived in sexual immorality (Jn. 8:41), of using Beelzebul’s (Satanic) power (Mt. 12:24), that He was possessed by a demon (Jn. 8:48), possessed by Beelzebul (Mk. 3:22), and that He Himself was Beelzebul (Mt. 10:25). 

And these objections to and  rejections of Christ began early in His ministry.  The residents of His hometown tried to kill Him after His first sermon (Lk. 4:16-30).  And very quickly, the religious leaders also turned against Him, as we will see today in Luke 6.  We have seen the Pharisees debating with Him, but in this chapter they begin plotting against Him — and the issue is His authority —

As the Son of Man, Jesus is authoritative…

Luke has explained His authority as a teacher, over demons, over other illnesses, over men to compel them to follow Him, and His ability to cleanse and heal.  Today we will see His authority over the Sabbath.  And what His declaration about the Sabbath reveals is His authority over man-made laws, over those who oppose Him, and His genuine righteousness.  In this section, Luke demonstrates two manifestations of  the Son of Man’s lordship over the Sabbath.

1. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath — He Keeps the Law (vv. 1-5)
2. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath — He is Compassionate (vv. 6-11)

Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 6:1-11.