Overview:
Do you allow legalists to control you? Are you able to discern between God’s instruction and others’ expectations? In Matthew 12:1–15, the Pharisees begin to show their true spiritual colors as they nitpick Jesus’ actions. In this sermon by Pastor Chuck Swindoll, learn the profile of a pharisaic legalist, so you can steer clear of their stifling rules. You were bought by Christ and for Christ, so you might live in the image of Christ with all its freedom.
Message Summary:
In this message centering on Matthew 12:1–14 and Matthew 15, Chuck Swindoll exposes the destructive nature of legalism and highlights Jesus’ supremacy as the Lord of the Sabbath. Swindoll begins by profiling the Pharisees as “religious nitpickers” whose hostility toward Jesus grew because He refused to conform to their man-made rules. Unlike the religious elite who avoided “sinners,” Jesus befriended outcasts, touched lepers, and allowed a woman with a questionable reputation to anoint Him, thereby shattering the expectations of the self-righteous.
Swindoll defines legalism by examining Matthew 15, where Pharisees criticized the disciples for ignoring ceremonial handwashing. He explains that the Pharisees had elevated their traditions to the level of God’s law, effectively canceling the Word of God—such as the command to honor one’s parents—for the sake of their own regulations [3–6]. Turning to Matthew 12, the sermon unpacks two specific Sabbath controversies: the disciples plucking grain and Jesus healing a man with a deformed hand. In both instances, Jesus dismantles the Pharisees’ rigid logic, arguing that human need and mercy triumph over ritualistic restrictions, declaring Himself “Lord even over the Sabbath” [9, 11–14].
The message concludes with a call to spiritual maturity and freedom. Swindoll asks three probing questions: Do you allow legalists to control you? Can you discern between God’s instructions and others’ expectations? Are you becoming an agent of grace? He challenges believers to stop being “fixers” of other people and to embrace the art of “letting go,” trusting that Christ is capable of handling His own sheep without human interference [18, 20–23].
Message Key Facts:
- The Definition of Legalism: Swindoll illustrates legalism by noting that the Jewish Talmud contains 24 chapters dedicated solely to Sabbath regulations. He defines legalists as those who work harder to keep rules than they do at their actual jobs, elevating man-made traditions to the level of divine law.
- The “Corban” Loophole: In Matthew 15, Jesus exposes how the Pharisees bypassed the command to “honor your father and mother.” They allowed people to vow their money to God (Corban), thereby claiming they could not use it to help their aging parents, effectively using religion to dodge moral responsibility.
- Sabbath vs. Sunday: Swindoll clarifies that the Sabbath (Shabbat) is the seventh day (Saturday), a day of rest, and was never meant to be applied to Sunday. He notes that the New Testament does not require Sabbath-keeping for believers living under grace, who worship on the first day of the week.
- The Sabbath Elevator: To illustrate modern-day legalism, Swindoll mentions the “Sabbath elevator” in Israel, which stops on every floor automatically so that an observant Jew does not have to perform the “work” of pushing a button.
- Mercy Trumps Sacrifice: Defending his disciples for eating grain on the Sabbath, Jesus cites David eating the consecrated temple bread and the priests working in the temple on the Sabbath. Swindoll explains this proves that meeting urgent human needs takes precedence over rigid ceremonial requirements.
- The Sheep vs. The Man: Jesus traps the Pharisees with a logic puzzle: they would pull a sheep out of a well on the Sabbath to protect their financial investment, yet they forbade healing a human hand. Swindoll emphasizes Jesus’ point: “How much more valuable is a person than a sheep?”.
- The Turning Point of Matthew: Swindoll identifies Matthew 12:14 as the “turning point” in the Gospel. After Jesus heals the man’s hand, the Pharisees hold a conspiracy meeting to plan His death. From this point on, Jesus’ ministry goes more “underground” as hostility becomes lethal.
- “Letting Go”: The sermon closes with a reading called “Letting Go,” which distinguishes between caring for someone (controlling) and caring about them (releasing). Swindoll admits to being a “professional fixer” in the past but urges listeners to realize they cannot control others’ outcomes.
Message References:
- Matthew 12:1–14: The primary text covering the disciples plucking grain and the healing of the man with the deformed hand on the Sabbath.
- Matthew 15:1–9: The confrontation regarding ceremonial handwashing and the Pharisees’ elevation of tradition over the commandments of God.
- Deuteronomy 23:25: (Implied) The law allowing travelers to pick grain from a neighbor’s field to satisfy hunger.
- 1 Samuel 21: (Referenced) The account of David and his companions eating the consecrated bread.
- Isaiah 29:13: Quoted by Jesus: “They teach man-made ideas as commands from God”.
- John 8:32: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free”.
