Lord of Sabbath | Matthew 12:1-14 – DFBC

Made To Grow – A Series on Sabbath’s Provision

Lord of Sabbath | Matthew 12:1-14

Dr. Miguel Lopez

August 23, 2026

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Apart from grace, we are all slaves to the futility of our fallen world. Everything, no matter how sublime, we touch, turns to dust corrupted by our sin. Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath came to set all things right. Sabbath was made for us, to experience the goodness of God. Not for self-righteous displays of elitists religious crowds hindering access to God. But grace is a threat that must be removed for the monopoly of religious technocrats to hold the status quo of their fake “holier than thou” religious flare. And so, they did. The Lord of the Sabbath, crucified, finishing his work, he rested. On the first day, he arose inaugurating a new creation for those who receive redemption by grace through faith in his name.

What should people find when they accept Christ’s invitation to come to him?

When people come to Jesus, who is the Lord of the Sabbath, they discover a God who…

Generously meets their needs, providing what they cannot earn: hunger/ healing (12:1-14).
1. Sabbath for the hungry and the sick: the God who graciously provides for those who humbly acknowledge their need.
2. The true purpose of the Sabbath: religion’s traditions vs. grace in Scripture (cf. Matthew 23, 1 Peter 5:1-6).
Graciously leads their way, taking them where they cannot go: my chosen servant (12:15-21).
1. The community of the called out.
2. Spirit filled to proclaim justice.
3. Not violent or attention seeking.
4. A place of hope for the nations.

God’s rest is not idleness,

But reliance on God’s gracious provision.

Stop trying to be good enough to earn God’s favor.

Humbly come to the Lord of the Sabbath as you are, and he will provide for who he wants you to be.

Have you ever had a need you know you must bring to the Lord but the guilt or shame of thinking you are not good enough keeps you from humbly coming to him? This is a deception of the enemy who wants you to ignore Jesus’s grace and invitation. Ignore your feelings and trust his word; he will never turn away those who turn to him (John 6:37).
Our generosity is the grateful response that acknowledges the generosity God has given us first. At DFBC, we are growing into a family where generosity is the fruit of our gratitude not the compulsion of raw needs. What part does God want you to have in the future of God’s plan through DFBC?
Pray for DFBC to become a community of life-givers who rely on God and lead with humility, service, and trust in the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

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