What Did Jesus Say About Working on the Sabbath?
Are We Missing the Point of Worship? (Matthew 12:1–14 Bible Study)
In this Bible study from Matthew, we move into a powerful moment in Jesus’ ministry. This one clarifies how we think about working on the Sabbath and how we live out our faith.
The religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, were focused on rules and rituals. But Jesus showed them (and us) that compassion, not tradition, is at the heart of God’s will.
Let’s find out what Jesus said about the Sabbath and what it means for us today.
Breaking a Rule vs. Doing Good: What Did Jesus Say About Working on the Sabbath?
“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.
But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.’”
— Matthew 12:1-2 NASB
Jesus didn’t ignore their concern. Instead, He took them back to Scripture.
He reminded them how King David once ate the consecrated bread that was technically only for priests. Then Jesus said:
“I say to you that something greater than the temple is here… For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
— Matthew 12:6, 8 NASB
Jesus wasn’t just defending His disciples. He was re-framing the entire discussion: The Sabbath was never about ritual alone—it was meant to refresh, to restore, and to point us back to God.
39 Things You Couldn’t Do on the Sabbath?
Did you know the Pharisees added over 1,500 rules to God’s original commandments? There were 39 specific categories of things forbidden on the Sabbath—including activities like tying knots, lighting a fire, and yes, harvesting wheat.
So when the disciples casually picked grain to eat, the Pharisees called it “harvesting.”
But Jesus saw something deeper. He saw legalism without love.
A Nation of Technicalities
The Pharisees had turned worship into a checklist. But Jesus flipped the narrative.
“If you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”
— Matthew 12:7 NASB
They focused on the “what” and missed the “why.” Jesus reminded them—and us—that compassion is greater than ritual.
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
“Departing from there, He went into their synagogue.
And a man was there whose hand was withered… And they questioned Jesus, asking, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’”
— Matthew 12:9-10 NASB
Once again, the Pharisees were more concerned with catching Jesus breaking a rule than witnessing the miracle of healing.
But Jesus responded:
“How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep!
So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
— Matthew 12:12 NASB
His message was clear: Doing good is never out of bounds.
Are We Still Getting It Wrong?
Today, we might not argue about working on the Sabbath the way the Pharisees did. But we can still fall into the trap of prioritizing tradition over truth, and preferences over people.
We argue over how worship services should look, what music should be played, or how the sanctuary is decorated. You can most likely fill in the blanks for others. But Jesus asks us to focus on Him, not the format.
Why Do We Go to Church, Really?
At its core, church isn’t about following a script—it’s about connection:
- With God,
- one another
and with the truth of Jesus. Do the two top ones ring a bell? These are the two greatest commandments, aren’t they?
Let’s not let rituals become more important than relationships. Jesus didn’t come to add to our burden—He came to lift it. And He calls us to do the same.
Do We Want to Be More Like Jesus or the Pharisees?
This study in Matthew 12 gives us a simple but challenging question: Are we walking in compassion like Jesus, or clinging to control like the Pharisees?
Let’s remember why we fellowship, why we worship, and why the Sabbath matters. It’s not about..
- perfection.
- or performance.
It’s about Jesus, isn’t it?
Love In Christ
– Bob
Want more Bible studies like this? Explore other lessons in our Bible Study Series.
Or, if you would like more information about the experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to look at John 3:16.