Uncommon Sense
“So, then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:12 (NASB)
To Do Good– Did you realize that every controversy in the gospels over Sabbath-keeping involves healing except the one incident of husking grain in the field. Doesn’t that seem remarkable? If there is any activity that demonstrates the goodness of God, it is healing. Why, then, should this issue be the predominant concern about keeping the Sabbath? A little investigation shows that healing is not included among the thirty-nine prohibited forms of “work.” That means healing is a unspecified activity which requires higher level interpretation in order to determine its acceptability. This is a problem for those who desire to have every aspect of life regulated. Yeshua capitalizes on this apparent gap in the highly regulated lives of the Pharisees in order to demonstrate a higher principle. When confronted by a test of His authority to determine permissible acts on the Sabbath, He heals and then He justifies healing on the basis of common and uncommon sense. It is common sense because no man (even the Pharisees) would leave an animal to suffer in a pit. It is uncommon sense because this general understanding of righteous acts leads to another principle, one which significantly complicates the life of legalism.
Yeshua concludes His teaching about the Sabbath with a statement that it is permissible (lawful) to do good on the Sabbath. The Greek words, kalos poiein, might be taken to mean any of the following: to do or make what is proper, what is right, suitable, or just, to benefit or to do good. In summary, this Greek phrase captures what Hebrew expresses as shalom. So, says Yeshua, it is morally acceptable and legally proper to perform such actions on the Sabbath. There is no violation of the commandment here.
But this presents an enormous problem. Why? Because Yeshua uses the opportunity presented by the absence of restrictions concerning healing to expand the possibility of doing all kinds of good on the Sabbath. He doesn’t say, “It is lawful to heal on the Sabbath.” He says, “It is lawful to do good.” And what does this mean? Ah, here is the real crux of the matter. Who will determine what it means to do good? Suddenly Yeshua opens the way for each of us to make moral decisions about keeping Sabbath. We can no longer simply lean on the rules promoted by the fence builders. Now we have to determine what is good. Now we are forced to break our comfortable legalism and act according to the character of God, the only One who knows what is truly good. Now even Sabbath-keeping becomes a matter of right relationship with the Father.
The Pharisees are trapped. They offer no counterargument to the commonsense claim that relief of suffering is good, even on the Sabbath. That opens the door to a higher principle. They can no longer rest on legislation, at least not when it comes to doing good. Their tight legalism is fractured. So is the legalism of every man or woman who would rather rely on a rule than on a relationship. Does that mean the rules have no value? Does that mean they don’t apply? Of course not. But rules cannot be used to escape personal responsibility for righteousness directed by YHWH. His “rules” express who He is, and we are required to live by His character, not simply by His regulations. “I am sick of your sacrifices of bulls and goats,” says YHWH. Why? Not because He did not want the sacrifice of bulls and goats as signs of true repentance but because the rule cannot substitute for the relationship.
It is lawful to do good no matter when the opportunity presents itself. Torah is the expression of doing God’s good, but you and I have to determine the priorities based on our devotion to Him.
Topical Index: healing, do good, kalos poiein, Matthew 12:12, legalism
A much light shed on the issue of laws, doing good and Sabbath choices. Thank you, Skip!
Shalom Skip,
Yeshua is not looking for legalistic fenced in regulations concerning Sabbath, but a “doing good,” loving G-d expressed by bringing healing to this man. G-d does not fit into any of OUR fences. He is always looking to expand our hearts in loving actions/healings toward others. Thanks Skip!
I would think that “doing good” is a rich explosive idiomatic phrase?
Skip, thanks for the insight into this question. I meet with a group of men each week for Bible reading, discussion and prayer and some time ago, we volunteered with a ministry called Love Inc (Love in the Name of Christ) that collects household items, furniture etc to distribute to the poor in our community. Our group helps deliver to families one Sabbath per month. This very topic hit me in the shower this morning (God “speaks” to me quite often in the shower) and although I felt quite comfortable with this form of “doing good” on the Sabbath, I believe God used your writing to confirm it. Thanks once again for your faithfulness in sharing His insight with us every day. You are definitely in your Zone!
Yeah, my daughter even said, “Dad, you have a gift.” But it comes from years of struggle, disobedience, manipulation and personal agony. Sort of a Jacob deal. Hopefully my bones will also be transported to Israel in the end.
“It is lawful to do good no matter when the opportunity presents itself.”
Seems like common sense to me 🙂
Hello Michael,
Yeshua statement: “So, then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Is all about loving G-d expressed though loving others. Sounds like the aim of Torah to me.
My personal corollary to that is, “It’s never wrong to be kind,” based on a cross-stitched piece hanging on my wall: WHAT WISDOM CAN YOU FIND THAT IS GREATER THAN KINDNESS. 🙂
Hello CYndee,
I believe it was Abraham Joshua Heschel who said, “When he was young, he admired people who were smart; when he was older, he admired people who were kind.”
My slant on this, “the smart will come and go; but the kind, will leave a lasting impression.”
Hello Brian,
It was Mother Teresa who said, “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” THAT is the epitome of kindness to me.
Hi CYndee,
“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” THAT is the epitome of kindness to me.
This is the definitely the theme the Holy Spirit is teaching and walking with me on, in this journey with Abba!
Thanks for sharing, and be blessed!
“loving G-d expressed though loving others. Sounds like the aim of Torah to me.”
“it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath”
Hi Brian,
The first statement above sounds true, but does not seem like common sense to me.
The second statement above is a bit more problematic.
Because doing good does not necessarily mean loving others in my view.
And to say that it is unlawful to do good on the Sabbath is obviously false 🙂
Good morning Michael,
Matthew 12:9-13, He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”— so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored healthy like the other.
You said, “Because doing good does not necessarily mean loving others in my view.” “To do good”, sounds like a very rich relational idiomatic phrase to me. And in the context of this Scripture, it was about the healing of the man with the withered hand.
Thanks for sharing Michael. Have a good day!
“You said, “Because doing good does not necessarily mean loving others in my view.” “To do good”, sounds like a very rich relational idiomatic phrase to me.”
Hi Brian,
You might have misunderstood what I was tryng to say.
I agree with you that in the passage above, Jesus is doing good and loving others.
My point was that we might do the right thing in a given situation (good).
But it might not have anything to do with loving others.
For example, we might need to publically reprimand a person on the Sabbath.
For doing something that is not in the best interest of the community.
That might be a good thing to do, but it is not a loving act.
Good morning Michael,
Thanks for your response. You responded 2:13am this morning, I have seen this a couple of times now. Where are you located in God’s world? Shalom and have a profitable day.
“You responded 2:13am this morning….Where are you located in God’s world?”
Hi Brian,
I’m in Milpitas CA, sort of in the middle of Silicon Valley.
I’ve not been feeling well for about a month.
But seem to be getting my energy back.
Shalom
“Nalinle: But will they not say that growing corn is woman’s work?
Massai: I am a warrior. What I do can never be woman’s work.”
Memorable quotes for Apache (1954)
Speaking of Milpitas, I certainly never thought I would end up here.
But looking back, I guess there were some signs.
Back in 1954, my mother took me (6) and my brother Brian (2) to the “drive in.”
She wanted to see Burt Lancaster in the Apache.
In the plot, Burt Lancaster is run off his land and wages war, single-handedly, against the oppressors.
I’ll never forget the scene toward the end of the movie.
Where Massai (Burt) and the beautiful Nalinle are hiding out in a cave in the hills.
The white men, who are many, have shot Massai and he is hurt pretty bad.
With blood oozing out of his belly, I was very afraid for him.
But to stop the bleeding, Hombre that he was, Massai simply took a handful of dirt and plugged the hole.
Needless to say, I was very impressed.
Then something happens and the white men stop looking for them.
They were free at last and I was relieved.
When they come out of the cave, Nalinle looks down where she had planted some seeds.
Seemingly astonished, she says “look at the little corn it has start to grow.”
In Spanish, little corn is called milpitas.
And Massai just might be “code” for the Massiah.
“Massai: I am a warrior”
As a warrior, Massai would be a symbol of the Messiah ben David I believe.
As opposed to Hombre, who on an allegorical level would be Messiah ben Joseph.
Hombre was played by Paul Newman.
It is because of my relationship with YHWH that I love to keep His commandments and not man’s. It is the sorting out of which of the ‘commandments’ are His and which are not… that requires both the written and the Living Word in order to come to a Righteous Walk.
Glad I found your site!
Jennifer
Hermana Bessy: ¿Qué ayuda necesia con la lectura del libro? Si se trata de revisar su traducción yo puedo leerlo y hacerle las anotaciones que desea. Para mí será un honor colaborar con ustedes para que el Hermano Skip haga su labor. Si soy útil en algo escríbame por favor. Bendiciones.
Wow! Thanks so much for an excellent teaching!
“Who will determine what it means to do good? Suddenly Yeshua opens the way for each of us to make moral decisions about keeping Sabbath.” Could this be a door opening to our familiarity to His Word and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit?
Shalom Mr. Hayden,
I agree with you, that the Holy Spirit is opening a door of exciting opportunities for us to partner with him, and living in a deepening relationship of kingdom work, “to do good on the Sabbath.”
Thanks for sharing this; my spirit jumped when I read what you wrote, I believe there is something of huge importance here. Have a blessed day.
Yes, and (furthermore) this “door opening” is Yeshua Himself- the open door (the sheepgate John 10.7) and Revealer of the heart of Elohim. We must remember (heed) what He said to the Pharisees (whose purpose was to “accuse” Him of wrongdoing)- “you do err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of G-d.” (Matthew 22.29)
Where else can we go to find the (already) revealed will of G-d but to the (,always active, always fresh, always alive) word of G-d. We should thank G-d everyday for our Bible- His complete Torah (instructions) for life. “It is written” and “thus saith the LORD” are synonymous.
Shalom Carl,
Good to hear from you this afternoon. G-d wants our lives to be outrageous examples of manifest deeds of hope and healing to others. Yes, Yeshua is always the open door and our greatest Example and Teacher, on what it means, “to do good on the Sabbath.” Thanks again for your sharing and insight! In His peace. Brian
Good morning Michael,
I am glad, that you seem to be getting your strength back. Still struggling with mine, it has been a year now.
I believe the Indian cultures, has substantial things that they can teach us. The Cherokee Indian is part of my ancestry. I carry the features, high cheekbones, dark complexion, dark hair and eyes.
There is some indication, that the Cherokee ancestry line is Jewish.
One of the lost tribes… 🙂