Lord's Day Keeping Requires Works of Necessity and Mercy

Introduction: Jesus’ Sabbath routine, Luke 4:16. How does it translate to our Sabbath routines?

1. “Deeds of necessity.” Taking care of basic needs is necessary, in order to be with Jesus, vv1-8
   a. It is a hard view of God to think that all He cares for is our sacrifice. Even the Pharisees’ view of this law was corrupted by their hardness (cf. Deu 23:25)
   b. Works necessary for us to worship Jesus. Jesus is greater than David. Being with Him ought to be a place of privilege, not deprivation. God doesn’t command us to be miserable, but He does command us to be merciful.
   c. Works necessary for others to worship Jesus. Jesus is greater than the Temple. Whatever is necessary to facilitate His worship is Sabbath keeping, not breaking.

2. “Deeds of mercy.” Noticing and attending to the suffering of others is necessary, in order to be with Jesus, vv9-14
   a. He desires mercy! Like Jonah… they just knew that He would be merciful!
   b. We don’t “break” the Sabbath by deeds of mercy; we keep it by deeds of mercy! We enable ourselves to worship Him by maintaining our hearts in sympathy with His.
   c. Hardness toward others corresponds with hardness toward Him, v14. You cannot delight in Him and despise His image.

3. So, what do we do?
   a. We prepare ourselves for worship
   b. We go to worship. Don’t just be there. Be THERE.
   c. We attend to Jesus, in delight and submission, by caring about what He cares about: God’s glory, Our souls, Others

Conclusion: Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath! Psalm 73:16-28 and Isaiah 58:13-14 and Gen 2:2-3 and Heb 4:1-10 are all about Him!