Understanding the transition from the law of Moses to the life of the Spirit #
“Jesus broke the law, not to be lawless, but to reveal a higher law—life in the Spirit.”
“Now it happened that Jesus was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.”
—Matthew 12:1, AMP
As we open to Matthew 12, we encounter a powerful moment of confrontation and revelation. Jesus, the Son of God, walks through a cornfield on the Sabbath with His hungry disciples. They pluck the ears of grain and eat them openly. The Pharisees are quick to judge, accusing them of violating the Sabbath law.
But Jesus doesn’t deny it. He answers not with defence, but with divine authority and insight, referencing Scripture itself—David eating the showbread, and priests working in the temple on the Sabbath without guilt.
The Law vs. the Spirit #
| Old Covenant (Law) | New Covenant (Spirit) |
|---|---|
| Sabbath observance required by law (Exodus 20) | Christ is our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9-10) |
| Breaking Sabbath = guilt | Mercy triumphs over sacrifice (Matthew 12:7) |
| Priesthood by Levitical lineage | Priesthood by inward rebirth (Romans 2:28-29) |
| Justified by works of the law | Justified by faith in Christ (Galatians 3:24-26) |
Why Did Jesus Permit Law-Breaking? #
To many, these verses are confusing. How could Jesus, who is sinless, allow His disciples to do what appears unlawful?
Yet this is the very point: He is not under the Mosaic Law. He operates under a higher law, the law of the Spirit of life.
“Christ is not subject to the Sabbath; He is the Sabbath, our true rest.”
“But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law… But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
—Galatians 3:23-25, AMP
The Greek word translated “tutor” in Galatians 3:24 is paidagōgos (παιδαγωγός), meaning a guardian or strict trainer. It signifies the Law’s role as a temporary custodian, meant to lead us to Christ, but not govern us once Christ is formed in us.
Now that faith has come—Christ in you, you in Him—the law of commandments no longer binds you. This is the mystery many still miss. Jesus allowed His disciples to “break” the Sabbath because the age of the law was giving way to the age of the Spirit.
Greater than the Temple #
Jesus continues:
“But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.”
—Matthew 12:6, AMP
Here, the Lord makes a staggering claim. He is greater than the temple, which represented the centre of the Jewish religious system. If the temple symbolises the law, then Christ represents its fulfilment and transcendence.
“For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.”
—Hebrews 7:12, AMP
Not only is there a new priesthood (after the order of Melchizedek), but also a new law. That new law is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). It sets us free from the law of sin and death.
Mercy, Not Sacrifice #
Jesus then explains why the Pharisees misunderstood:
“If you had only known what this statement means: ‘I desire compassion [mercy], and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”
—Matthew 12:7, AMP
This is a direct rebuke to their legalistic mindset. The word translated “compassion” or “mercy” is the Hebrew chesed (חֶסֶד), which means steadfast love or covenant mercy. This mercy is not found in rule-keeping but in the life of God flowing through Christ by the Spirit.
“By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.”
—Proverbs 16:6, AMP
Thus, the law of Moses, built on sacrifice, is displaced by the law of mercy and truth—a living law, not a written code.
“The Law condemns the hungry; the Spirit feeds them in the presence of Christ.”
Lord of the Sabbath #
Jesus ends the confrontation by asserting:
“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
—Matthew 12:8, AMP
This is not just a title—it is a declaration of dominion. The Sabbath here symbolises the entire Mosaic system, and Christ is its Lord. He is not bound by it, because He has fulfilled it.
Just as He is the true rest, He is also the end of the law for righteousness to those who believe (Romans 10:4).
Spiritual Significance of the Ears of Corn #
The disciples’ eating of corn in the presence of Jesus symbolises our feeding on the Word, now that Christ has come. The “ears of corn” represent the milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2), which we begin to eat when Christ walks with us.
Whereas the Law leaves us hungry and condemned, Christ feeds us, enlightens us, and justifies us freely by His Spirit.
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
—Romans 8:1, AMP
Summary #
| Aspect | Under Law (Moses) | Under Christ (Spirit) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard of Righteousness | Works of the law | Faith in Christ |
| Sabbath | Legal commandment (day-bound) | Person of Christ (perpetual rest) |
| Priesthood | Levitical, hereditary | After the Spirit, inward and eternal |
| Food (Word) | Not freely accessible | Received in Christ’s presence |
| Mercy | Limited, conditional | Overflowing, unconditional in the Spirit |
In Christ,
Shaliach.
