The Gospel Reading shows Jesus in a position of conflict with the religious leaders of his day, a position we find him in repeatedly. This time it is over the observance of the sabbath. This is a story we need to hear, not only to understand the life of Jesus, but to apply it to ourselves as religious folks. In Jesus' critical encounters with the Pharisees or scribes or the Jews, we must avoid the temptation to look down on them by placing ourselves above them. The faults of the religious people of Jesus' day are repeated often in the history of the church and in our day, as well. The warning of Jesus not to be concerned about the speck in someone else's eye when we have a log in ours is particularly appropriate here.

The problem that is addressed is greater than the issue about sabbath o…