28. One of them said: Why does your Master break bread with tax collectors and sinners?
29. Jesus overheard what was being asked of his troubled disciple and immediately responded by saying: Those of you who are satisfied that you are healthy have no need of a physician, but those of you in need of assistance should seek out the one person who can help you. I have not come to call those who are self-righteous, but those who are aware of the healing goodness of God.
see
Matt 9:12–13;
Mark 2:17;
Luke 5:31–32
30. The wisdom of Jesus’ words caused Judas to reflect on his own shortcomings.
31. He turned his back on the Pharisees, even more determined to become closer to this man who was able to accept that, although he was a sinner, he could still be one of his followers.
32. The Scribes and the Pharisees were not pleased that Judas had rejected them, for they were becoming more and more fearful of Jesus and the influence he was having among the people.
33. At that time, the Pharisees only muttered among themselves, but it was not long before they approached Judas a second time, in the hope that they might convince him to join them and even turn one or two of the other disciples against Jesus.
34. Once again, Judas rejected them.
Chapter 7
The Sabbath was made for man
1. On the following Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were walking by a field of corn, when one of the group, who had not eaten that day, plucked a ripe head of corn from the crop, rubbed the seed between his fingers and began to eat the sweet flour; soon the other disciples followed his example.
2. A group of Pharisees, who had been watching Jesus closely in the hope of finding some reason to reproach him for not abiding by the strict teaching of the Torah, said: Why do you allow your disciples to carry out an unlawful deed on the Sabbath? Six days shall you labour, but on the seventh you must rest.
see
Exod 20:8–11
3. Judas remembered these words, because it was the first time a Pharisee had questioned Jesus directly on his observance of religious law.
4. Jesus was not deceived by the Pharisees’ attempt to turn this harmless act by one of his disciples to their advantage with such a narrow interpretation of the law. His reply was to the point: The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Mark 2:27
5. Judas and the other disciples were amazed that Jesus was able to silence these rigid guardians of the law with such simple wisdom and common sense.
6. Although the Pharisees were unwilling to come out publicly against Jesus, they were unable to hide their anger whenever they heard him speak, as his teachings continued to undermine their authority.
7. They remained close by, in the hope that they might trap Jesus should one of his disciples break another tenet of the law. They did not have long to wait.
8. The Scribes and the Pharisees strictly adhered to the tradition of fasting and the Prophet Daniel had even risked his life to abide by the law.
see
Tobit 12:8,
Judith 4:9;
Daniel 1:1–16
9. So when the disciples ignored the laws of fasting, the Pharisees took this as another opportunity to reproach Jesus.
10. They asked: Why do you condone the actions of your disciples when they forsake the fine tradition of fasting that Daniel and John the Baptist always obeyed?