NOTES for Luk 6:1-11
Jesus so often does things on the Sabbath that are frowned upon that one cannot help wondering: why? He seems to be provoking the Pharisees, demonstratively violating the Sabbath rest and thereby inviting their condemnation. But the violation of the Sabbath-rest regulations takes place only in the eyes of the Pharisees, who are well versed in ritual and legal subtleties but have lost their understanding of why both laws and rites were given to us. And if Jesus appears to violate the law, in essence He fulfills it, for the Sabbath belongs to Him, and the rest of this day is not mindless idleness, but peace and mercy.
By calling Himself Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus openly announces to those around Him who He is. Those who heard these words must now choose who they believe Jesus to be. It is also a choice of their own path.