John 7:19-24 - Lesson #76

A crowd had gathered to listen to Jesus teach in the temple. They marveled at His knowledge of the scriptures since He had never been officially trained. Jesus responded by directing the glory to God; "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me" (John 7:16). He then moved into a mode of confrontation by claiming to be true and with "no unrighteousness" (v. 18).

John 7:19-24
"'Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?' The people answered and said, 'You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'I did one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.'"

During His last trip to Jerusalem, Jesus chose to heal a man on the Sabbath. This apparent violation of Sabbath Law greatly angered the Jewish leaders and Pharisees who believed their Law was the path to being "right" with God; "For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him" (John 5:16). So Jesus began by asking how they can respect the Law if they do not even keep the basic law of "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). He then continued by revealing their inconsistent application of the Law.

The law of circumcision was first given as a sign of God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:10), and then included with the Law given through Moses; "And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised" (Leviticus 12:3). When the eighth day fell on the Sabbath the child was still circumcised even though the Law said to do no work.

Jesus revealed a huge flaw in the belief system of the Jewish leaders and Pharisees. They had become so attached to their detailed interpretation of the Law that they completely missed the true character of God which the Law revealed. Was it possible that God would institute a system which allowed for circumcision on the Sabbath but not complete healing? Of course not! A true understanding of the Sabbath would compel one to honor God by demonstrating His character - which Jesus did perfectly by compassionately healing. The Jewish leaders were passing judgment based on the blind outward adherence to a religious system and Jesus said to judge according to the heart of righteousness which He revealed.

The outward acceptance and compliance with religious rules and systems cannot make us right with God. Righteousness is only found in the forgiveness given through faith in Jesus, not in what we do. And when we are graciously allowed to walk in a right relationship with God, we are to reflect His character of compassion, mercy and love in all we do as we honor Him from our heart.