Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion covers Luke 6:1-5.

“1 Now it happened that He was passing through some grainfields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain.

2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

3 And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,

4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?”

5 And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:1-5.

This Scripture continues the theme of the two 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: “What can we do to achieve righteousness and salvation?”. The practices of the disciples of Jesus can be summarized as “living by the Spirit”: “What has God done to give us righteousness and salvation?”.

Today, we see a specific example of legalism and a specific reason why we can live by the Spirit.

The specific example of legalism is the teaching of the Pharisees that the action of the disciples of Jesus, picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain, was a violation of the fourth commandment (“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11).

The specific reason why we can live by the Spirit is that “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” In other words, Jesus is a higher standard and authority than the Sabbath, any other commandment, and the Law. “… He is the head over all rule and authority;” Colossians 2:10. (Emphasis added.)

“Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day–things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17. “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)–in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.” Colossians 2:20-23.

When we live by legalism, or by even the Law even in its simple and pure form of the Ten Commandments, we will find that the sin within us “… taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind …” Romans 7:8. “for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.” Romans 7:11.

However, when we follow Jesus and live by the Spirit, we will do what is right. We will find that fruit is produced of “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

So, what is the purpose of the Law if it cannot make us righteous and cannot give us life?  The purpose of the Law is to “… shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” Galatians 3:22. “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.

“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17.

In Christ, we have “the summing up of all things”. Ephesians 1:10. “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16.

“… “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” Matthew 17:5.

 ³⁸  “But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

 ³⁹  “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.'”  Luke 5:36-39. 

It helps us to use the context to understand this Scripture.  In yesterday’s devotion, we read the immediate preceding Scripture of Luke 5:33-35:  “And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.”  And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?  “But the days will come;  and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”

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:  “What can we do to achieve righteousness and salvation?”

The practices of the disciples of Jesus can be summarized as “living by the Spirit“:  “What has God done to give us righteousness and salvation?”

^“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28-29.

Man does indeed think that ” ‘The old is good enough.”  “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 

But, Jesus’ reply turns the question of legalism to the answer of “living by the Spirit”.  Jesus shifted the focus from man to God and from works to faith and from “what man could do” to “what God has done”.  “This is the work of God …” 

And yet, the Pharisees are not alone in preferring the old to the new.  Paul admonished the Galatians:  ^“Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:3-5.

But, the new can not be tied down to the old despite the desires of the Pharisees and the Galatians and many today.  Jesus was emphatic in using the illustrations that if one does tie down the old to the new:  “he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old” and “the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined’.

That is why we “… we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6. 

But, if we insist on proving our own righteousness through old legalism, “even just a little to be safe”, as good as it may be in its distilled form of the Ten Commandments, then we will die.  “… for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:7-11.

“For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.  “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”  Galatians 2:18-19.  

“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Galatians 3:10.       

What could be wrong with adding just a little of the old legalism to the new life in Christ? 

But, Paul’s response was sharp.   “Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.  And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.  You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”  Galatians 5:2-4. 

In conclusion, we must be careful.  ” A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.”  Galatians 5:9.  We can’t patch a little of the old legalism to the new life in Christ.  We can’t work just a little to be safe.  We trust God and wait for the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, “… not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith”.  Philippians 3:9.

 ³⁵  “But the days will come;  and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”  Luke 5:33-35. 

What is the meaning of this Scripture for us?  Should we be fasting and praying?  Or, should we be eating and drinking?  Is Christ with us?  Or, is Christ away from us?

^“4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

 ⁵  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

 ⁶  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 ⁷  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 ⁸  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

 ⁹  The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:4-9.

Here, Paul was in jail.  If ever there was a time when he could feel that Christ was away from him, it would be then.  If ever there was a time when he could feel that he should be fasting and praying, it would be then.  But, instead, his attitude was one of joy and rejoicing.  In the same chapter, he later speaks of contentment.  He speaks of having received everything in full and having an abundance.  He speaks of the promise of God supplying all our needs.  He speaks of the nearness of the Lord, the peace of God guarding our hearts, and the grace of God being with our spirit.

I am not maintaining that fasting should never be done.  But, I am saying that if, in the best sense of this Scripture, Christ is away from us, so that we should fast, at least more, then we would see it preached and practiced much more.

When Paul stated in Philippians 4:9 above, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”, Paul was not talking about fasting.  After the Book of Acts, when I did a BibleGateway search, I did not find a single reference to a fast or fasting – Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: fast

And yet, it may appear to the world that the attitude of Christians is one of sorrow or at least lack of joy.  It may appear to the world as if Christians are solemn and sour.  It may appear to the world as if Christians are fasting. 

It is a shame that the questions in the first paragraph seem at first so tough to answer.

“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;  And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:11. 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20.  (Emphasis added.)

 ²⁹  And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house;  and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.

 ³⁰  The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”

 ³¹  And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.

 ³²  “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”  Luke 5:27-32.

Jesus cared more about calling sinners to repentance than He cared about His reputation with the religious leaders of that day, the Pharisees and their scribes.

Do we care more about appearing pious to our church leaders, whether they be leaders in the denomination, clergy, or even lay leaders, than we care about ministering to others?

I suppose some can misuse this Scripture to satisfy their own lusts to eat and drink, but we can see that this Scripture leads with Jesus calling to Levi to follow Him.  “And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.”  It is only afterwards, and at the invitation of Levi, that Jesus reclined at the table to eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners.

It is also interesting to contrast Jesus’ actions with many evangelists today.  Many evangelists today think their job is done when someone walks up to the altar “to accept Jesus” in response to their “altar call”.  Here, we see that Levi had already begun to follow Jesus, but Jesus was still interested in ministering to Levi and the other sinners who were with Levi.

In regards to Jesus eating and drinking with Levi and other sinners, this action of Jesus reminds me of 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 which is a very fitting summary and conclusion.

“²³  All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

 ²⁴  Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.

 ²⁵  Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake;

 ²⁶  FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS.

 ²⁷  If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake.

 ²⁸  But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake;

 ²⁹  I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s;  for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?

 ³⁰  If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

 ³¹  Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

 ³²  Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;

 ³³  just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.”  1 Corinthians 10:23-33

 ²²  But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?

 ²³  “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

 ²⁴  “But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”–He said to the paralytic–“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.”

 ²⁵  Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.

 ²⁶  They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”  Luke 5:20-26. 

Few need to be healed of their paralysis.  All need to be forgiven of their sins.

We may not even “know” that we sin, but if we do not know that we sin, our sins will not be forgiven.  “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”  1 John 1:8. 

We may know our sins, but if we do not confess our sins, our sins will not be forgiven.  “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long.  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;  My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.”  Psalm 32:3-4. 

We may know our sins, and even confess our sins, but if we do not really believe that Jesus has the authority to forgive our sins, then we lack saving faith and our sins will not be forgiven.  See John 8:12-59, especially verse 24:  “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins;  for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”  John 8:24.

We may know our sins, and even confess our sins, and believe that Jesus has the authority to forgive our sins, but if we do not really believe that Jesus desires to forgive our sins, then our sins will not be forgiven.  We are reminded of yesterdays’ devotion.  “While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy;  and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”  And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing;  be cleansed.”  And immediately the leprosy left him.”  Luke 5:12-13.  We are also reminded that an element of faith is that “… He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6. 

In summary, knowledge of sins, confession of sins, belief in Jesus’ authority to forgive sins, and belief in Jesus’ desire to forgive our sins, are important parts of faith.  There may be other parts of faith.  I break faith down to some elements, not to discourage anyone, but rather to point to the need for us to receive saving faith as a gift of God.  Arminians often portray faith as just a simple exercise of their alleged free-will.  But, who is to say that simply squinting your eyes and saying”  “I believe.” is faith or sufficient faith to save? 

We need that saving faith that comes as a gift of God. 

Article 8 of The Canons of Dordt states:  “For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  (Emphasis added.) 

God will give us all of what we need.  He will plant the seed of faith within our hearts.  He will show us Scripture that will build our faith.  He will bring us through experiences, like fire, that will prove our faith.

Leprosy reminds us of sin.  It harms and even corrupts the body.  It spreads.  It leads to death.

For good reason, we shudder in disgust and fear when we think of either leprosy or sin.

But, there is hope.  We do have a Savior!  “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”  And He answers us, saying, “I am willing;  be cleansed.” 

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:8-9.

We know forgiveness of sins.  We know these verses.

But, I was reminded of the importance of believers continually asking God to forgive their sins by a Standard Bearer article that I read yesterday titled “Justification:  Considering the Judgment Day with Singular Delight” by Rev. Angus Stewart in the November 1, 2009 Special Reformation Issue on John Calvin – 500th Anniversary with the following quote at page 59.  As a side note, this issue contained a lot of great articles on John Calvin, and I particularly recommend this issue and include a link herein to it – Click here: http://www.rfpa.org/downloads/8603.pdf

“Third, justification includes the continual forgiveness of sins. It is not something that we receive once and for all at the very start of our Christian life, as many in evangelical circles believe and teach. Calvin explains that in the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer (“forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”), we who are already believers continually ask God to remit our sins:

M. What does the fifth petition contain?
S. That the Lord would pardon our sins…. When Christ gave this form of prayer, he designed it for the whole Church (p. 79).

In his Institutes, the Genevan Reformer affirms,
…we must have this blessedness [of justification] not just once but must hold to it throughout life…the embassy of free reconciliation is published [i.e., preached] not just for one day or another but is attested as perpetual in the church (3.14.11).”   

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16

^“4  When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

 ⁵  Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”

 ⁶  When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;

 ⁷  so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.

 ⁸  But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

 ⁹  For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;

 ¹⁰  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”

 ¹¹  When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.”  Luke 5:4-11. 

I do not think the only reason why Simon, James, and John worked hard all night and caught nothing, but then caught two boat-loads of fish upon obeying Jesus’ command, is to show the greatness of Jesus’ miracle. 

I think another reason why Simon, James, and John worked hard all night and caught nothing, is to be an important part of the analogy between catching fish and catching men. 

With men, it is impossible to catch or convert men. 

^“10  as it is written,
         “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
    ¹¹  THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
         THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
    ¹²  ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
         THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
         THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”  Romans 3:10-12.                             

It is not just a matter of trying harder to catch men.  In my experiences and observations at different denominations and different churches, it was so discouraging and so disheartening for me and others to try and also watch others catch men through their own strategies and their own hard work.  And, you could not help but feel sorry for “God” through this image of “God” waiting and watching to see what men would do and wringing his hands. 

But, with God, it is not only possible to catch or convert men, it is irresistable. 

In sharp black-and-white contrast to the futile strategies and hard work of man, you have here the words of Jesus:  “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 

(Emphasis added to the foregoing verses.)