The Purpose of God's Commands

The controversy with the Pharisees recorded in Matthew 12:1-8 follows Jesus’ great invitation for all who are weary to come to Him for rest.  Christ’s invitation and the opposition of the Pharisees are intimately connected.  Christ offered rest to anyone who would come to Him by faith.  The controversy which followed was about resting on the Sabbath. The disagreement involved the very purpose of God’s commands and ordinances.  The Pharisees considered the act of Christ’s disciples in taking the grain in the field and eating it as a breach of God’s law.  Jesus responded that the purpose of all of God’s commands was to mercifully direct people to what would meet their deepest needs.  The result of the Pharisees misuse of God’s law was to lay heavy burdens on people.    The Christian must always understand that the commands which give direction to life are also assurances of God’s enabling power.  They are not intended to weigh us down, but to lift us up.