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Matthew recounts how Jesus challenges the religious ideas of His day, around what can and cannot be done on the Sabbath. The Pharisees criticise Jesus’ disciples for plucking ears of corn and rubbing off the husks before eating them on the Sabbath. A legalistic approach to obeying the fifth commandment that was typical of the beliefs of the Jews of this period. Jesus refers His listeners to Hosea words’ where he quotes God as desiring mercy rather than sacrifice when approaching the application of His law. Jesus pushes the religious leaders further when they try to trick Him into ‘working’ on the Sabbath by healing a man with a withered hand. Wouldn’t they do good on the sabbath if it came to looking after their animals, surely a man is worth more than an animal? Their inability to catch Jesus out enrages the Pharisees and they now seek ways to ‘destroy’ Him.

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