We look at two things today. First, keeping the Sabbath is one of God’s commands, and like all of God’s commands it will challenge us. But, also like all of God’s commands, it contains gracious truths that are for our good, and that bless us when we embrace them.

Second, we look at the two points Jesus is making when he uses this story from the life of David to rebuke and challenge the Pharisees in their approach to the Sabbath, which will also give us the framework for understanding the final story in this passage, the healing on the Sabbath day. And the challenge is that we not be blinded to Jesus’ message by our own religious ideas.