Stroll through Scripture for February 2, 2025

Based on Luke 6:1–16

This passage of Scripture is filled with three different sections. It’s Jesus versus the nitpickers part 1 and 2 and then the naming of the disciples.

Honestly, when I read this passage, it just drives me crazy. Maybe that’s because it seems like there are still plenty of people who have attitudes like the Pharisees in the story — far more worried with making sure everyone is following the letter of the law, rather than the intent. When we focus on the letter of the law, we easily lose sight of the humanity of people. People turn into just another thing, or check box, or something else.

In part 2, Jesus directly confronts the Pharisees. They are just sitting around, watching him, waiting for him to break the Sabbath law. We get the sense that they are hoping he would, so that they would have something to be upset about. The world is full of people like this — those who enjoy being upset by someone else’s action. This is especially the case when a person can point out the “sins” of another that they themselves are not guilty of. Humans love to point out others’ flaws and show their own innocence — it makes us feel superior or more righteous to be able to look down on others.

Jesus cuts to the chase in this scene asking the Pharisees the most vital question — “is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” Ironically, they don’t answer. Mostly because the obvious answer would show them for who they…