The law says to not work on the Sabbath day.  Point of clarification – what is work?  If work involves carrying something, how heavy could the load be and not be work?  If work meant carrying something with the hands or on your shoulders, is it acceptable to carry something on your foot, in your mouth, on the back of your hand or in the hem of your shirt?  When does the Sabbath begin and end?  How do we know that carrying anything heavier than a dried fig is work and therefore unacceptable?  While you may think these questions are silly, the Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus day would consider these issues a matter of life and death.  So do religious people today, because it helps them avoid the emptiness of rejecting Jesus help to clean up their dirty insides.

We are studying from Luke 11:37-54 again this week. Pastor Whipple’s sermon notes are available for download.