How does Matthew 12:5 illustrate the authority of Scripture over tradition? Setting the Scene Jesus and His disciples are walking through grainfields on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–2). Pharisees—guardians of a growing body of oral Sabbath regulations—condemn the disciples for plucking heads of grain. Jesus responds with two Scriptural examples. The second, found in Matthew 12:5, is our focus. Reading the Verse “Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?” (Matthew 12:5) Key Observations • “Haven’t you read…” – Jesus presumes the written Law is the final, obvious authority. • “In the Law” – He cites Scripture, not rabbinic tradition, as the decisive source. • “Priests…violate the Sabbath and yet are innocent” – Scripture itself records that priestly work (Numbers 28:9–10) supersedes Sabbath prohibitions when done in service to God. How the Verse Demonstrates Scripture’s Authority over Tradition • Scripture Sets the Precedent – Numbers 28:9–10 commands priests to offer additional sacrifices on the Sabbath, requiring labor. – By appealing to this text, Jesus shows that God’s own Law makes exceptions, overruling extra-biblical rules. • Tradition Stands Corrected – Pharisees held oral traditions forbidding nearly every form of work, including the disciples’ simple action. – Jesus’ Scriptural citation exposes the insufficiency of those traditions when they conflict with written revelation. • The Logic Is Unassailable – If God’s Law authorizes priestly labor, then Sabbath regulations cannot be absolute. – Therefore, the disciples’ lesser “work” is certainly permissible, proving Scripture’s interpretive priority. Parallel and Supporting Passages • Mark 7:8–13 – Jesus rebukes elevating “tradition of men” above “the word of God.” • Colossians 2:16–17 – Food and Sabbath regulations are “a shadow”; Christ is the substance. • 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed,” the supreme standard for doctrine and practice. • Acts 17:11 – Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily” to test all teaching. • Psalm 119:160 – “The sum of Your word is truth,” underscoring Scripture’s total reliability. Personal Takeaways • Examine every religious practice—old or new—by the clear, written Word of God. • Do not let well-meaning traditions bind where Scripture grants freedom. • Follow Jesus’ model: answer controversy by asking, “Haven’t you read…?” and turning to the text. |
    |