Matthew 12

“Stretch out your hand” (v13). In Jesus’ time, keeping very strict rules about the Sabbath had come to symbolize “being righteous,” and the Pharisees took the Sabbath seriously. But in their quest to appear righteous (and police others), the Pharisees had missed God’s heart: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (v7). In fact, the behavior of Jesus (healing on the Sabbath) and His disciples (picking grain) enraged the Pharisees, because through these actions Jesus proclaimed that He was “Lord of the Sabbath” (v8).

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen ... I will put my Spirit upon him ... in his name the Gentiles will hope” (v18-21). We don’t define righteousness; the Lord of the Sabbath does. Jesus, God’s chosen, revealed the Father’s heart.