Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion covers Luke 6:6-11 which covers Jesus healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath.  We will focus on verses 9 and 10. 

 

“And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?”  After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!”  And he did so;  and his hand was restored.”  Luke 6:9-10. 

 

This Scripture continues the theme of the three prior Scriptures.  The practices of the Pharisees can be compared to the old.  The practices of the disciples of Jesus can be compared to the new.  The practices of the disciples of the Pharisees can be summarized as legalism.  The practices of the disciples of Jesus can be summarized as “living by the Spirit“.  In the last Scripture, we saw a specific example of legalism and a specific reason why we can live by the Spirit. 

Today, we see a specific example of how we live by the Spirit.  When Jesus healed this man, He was showing the fruit of the Spirit including but not limited to love, kindness, and goodness.  When we live by the Spirit, we too will do those things which express the fruit of the Spirit. 

And, not only is it loving, kind, and good to do those things, it is also lawful to do those things. 

But, we must keep in mind that we do these expressions of the fruit of the Spirit not for the primary purpose of complying with the Law.  We do these things for the primary purpose of glorifying God and being like Christ. 

So, what is the meaning of doing these things “not for the primary purpose of complying with the Law”?  I see two meanings, a specific meaning and a more general meaning. 

First, for the specific meaning, in the account of Mark 2:23-28 which is parallel to yesterday’s Scripture of Luke 6:1-5,  “Jesus said to them, ” The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:27  We do good things for man, because they are good for man, not because they are good for the Sabbath or somehow show that we are more pious.

Second, for the more general meaning, we are released from the Law, dead to the Law, and we should not seek bondage again under the Law.  “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:24-26. 

So, what  is the meaning of doing these things for the primary purpose of glorifying God and being like Christ?

We do these good works to glorify God.  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

We are being conformed to the image of Christ.  Romans 8:29.