First Things First - Matthew 12:1-8 1/5/25 Why do “good things” get in the way of the “best things”? Or why do we prioritize the second, the fourth, or even the eighteenth thing ahead of what should be the first thing? At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1-8 ESV What the disciples did was allowed in Deuteronomy 23:25 and truly not outside of the law. Additional rules had been added to the law a supposed outward measure of a person’s spiritual health. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:7-8 ESV Rules had the unintended consequence of lowering the bar and distracting Jews from their relationship God. Jesus points to what should be considered first in every believer’s life. For I desire steadfast love[a] and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 ESV Jesus makes it clear that as “Lord of the Sabbath” that man’s rules can add nothing to it. What are the “best” things we should put first? • The Great Commandment - Matt 22:37-40 • The Great Commission – Matt 28:18-19 • Know & believe in Jesus – John 6:28-29 Questions for Reflections and Discussion: 1. How do I measure my Spiritual Health? 2. What am I putting first? 3. Do I trade what’s best for what’s “good”? 4. Are there any changes I need to make?