Lesson 10 this week focuses on the lightness of the Savior’s yoke. At first, I had a hard time with the section included in the lesson on the Sabbath day (Matthew 12:1-13). I had difficulty relating the two together, and had to ponder it for some time (actually, several days, since I read the entire lesson on Sunday). However, as I read what the Savior taught as the purpose of the Sabbath, I came to understand how this relates to a light and easy yoke.
First, of course, you must understand that the Pharisees followed the traditions of the elders, and held them in higher regard than the words of the prophets. In Mark 7:5-9, Christ berates them for teaching the rules of man as doctrine. Another reason to be grateful to live in a time where we can ponder our own scriptures, rather than simply have selected verses read to us! Anyway, over the years, the Pharisees “(taught) for doctrines the commandments of men…laying aside the commandments of God” (Mark 7:7-8).
Christ reprimands them for their criticism. He provides two examples of times when the spirit of the law outweighs the letter. In the Old Testament, David ate the sacred shewbread from the alter of the temple. This would be similar, I think, to blessing the bread for the sacrament and consuming it for a meal, although since it was bread in the temple, I would guess it was far more sacred. (This is my understanding; I don’t have a strong knowledge of the workings of the Priesthood. Should anyone care to elaborate, confirm, or deny, I would be highly grateful!) At this time, David was running from Saul, who sought to kill him. If you look up ‘shewbread’ in the Bible Dictionary, you see the notation that “the Lord drew from this incident the lesson that the law of charity overrides every ritual law.” Thus, the spiritual is more important than the physical. Christ also notes that the priests of the temple are in technical violation of Sabbath breaking as they prepare the sacrifices for the Sabbath day.
I love the scripture referenced in verse 7. If you turn to Hosea 6:6, we can read the verse in full. “For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” So even the God of the Old Testament, with all of the Mosaic laws, would rather we show mercy and knowledge than sacrifice and burnt offerings. To think some people have trouble reconciling the two! He would rather that we have charity than all else. Christ then teaches in the synagogue that “it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” (Matthew 12:12).
There are times when I think we tend to view the Sabbath as a long list of ‘don’t’s. Don’t go to the store. Don’t go to the baseball game. Don’t go out to eat. When we view the Sabbath as such, it does become a great burden, and sometimes overwhelming. But when we view it as an opportunity to serve the Lord, when we look at the possibilities given to us, the burden is lifted. It becomes lighter. We need to take joy in our service, rather than groaning under the obligations and difficulties that a strictly physical view perceives. As we do so, those ‘burdens’ become lighter and easier to carry; indeed, we delight in them.
Related Articles:
Family Home Evening: Sabbath Day Observance
The Blessing of the Sabbath Day