The Pharisees were constantly trying to catch the Lord in a sin.  There were several times that they accused the Lord of defiling the Sabbath, but the Lord was always able to expose their evil hearts.  Let’s look at a couple of those times.

Matthew 12:1-2, “At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.” 

Under the Law, it was permissible, when passing through someone’s field, to pluck enough corn to satisfy your appetite.  We read in Deuteronomy 23:25, “When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.”  There was no law that prohibited someone from picking corn to eat because he was hungry.  It was perhaps that the disciples rubbed the corn (wheat) together to separate it from the chaff that the Pharisees complained about.  (Read Luke 6:1). They considered this work, and thus accused the Lord and His disciples of breaking the Sabbath.

Let’s consider the Lord’s reply to the charges of the Pharisees in Matthew 12:3-8, “But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”  The Lord rightfully pointed out that the Law did not restrict acts of necessity.  He used the occasion of David entering the house of God to get the showbread for his men to eat because they were hungry.  In Mark’s account of this incident, the Lord said in Mark 2:27, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” 

Now, let’s consider Luke 6:6-7, “And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.”  It is obvious that these men had no desire to learn about the Lord.  Rather, they sought ways to accuse Him.  Here, they waited to see whether the Lord would heal this man of his withered hand on the Sabbath day. 

Let’s continue reading that portion.  Luke 6:8-11 says, “But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.”  What a question!  “Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good?”  Did the Law prevent gracious acts?  Did the Law require that this man’s hand remain crippled on this day?  Seeing the Lord Jesus heal this man, the people were filled with madness (rage).  Because the Lord had violated their interpretation of the Law, they were incensed and began to consider what they could do to Him. 

Galatians 4:4 tells us the Lord Jesus was “made under the law.”  He NEVER broke the Law.  That would be sin and Christ “did no sin.” (1 Peter 2:22).  Therefore, He NEVER violated the Law, only the Pharisees’ traditions.  Yet, even in His perfection and perfect understanding of the Law, many turned against Him instead of bowing to Him and accepting Him as Lord and Savior.  What about you, dear reader, have you bowed to the Lord Jesus?  I trust you have.  John 3:36 tells us, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  (CC)  (563.2)