Ox in a Ditch

On the way home from camping this past Sunday, between the hours of 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., I was struck by the number of cars on the road and in shopping/restaurant parking lots. As a pastor, it concerns me that so many choose to do something other than worship on Sunday morning. Believe me, I am not passing judgement here, nor am I only thinking about how having people choose the church would effect me professionally. (I also realize it was Mother's Day and many may have been honoring their moms by taking them out to lunch, etc.) I am only making the observation that many have made choices to do other things instead of taking time to worship God, knowing that so many broken and hurting lives are in need of that relationship over a meal.

I am also not arguing for a "religious" adherence to some "honoring of the Sabbath" for the purposes of "making God happy", as I am sure that He is more concerned with us "doing what is right, loving mercy and to walk humbly with our God" than He is about our church attendance. But part of "walking humbly with our God" might include worship.

Some may argue with me that attending worship does not make you a follower of Christ, and to that, I would agree. As I have said on occasion, "Sitting in church does not make you a Christian any more than sitting in a hen-house will make you a chicken." But living in community with other believers is a crucial part of our spiritual development and our "walk" with God.

Some might appeal to the words of Jesus, in Luke 14, concerning what is "right" to do on the Sabbath. One of the more popular arguments for going to restaurants, shopping, etc. on the Sabbath is based on the principle of the “ox in a ditch.” This argument is driven by the belief that circumstances beyond the Sabbath-keeper’s control might necessitate having to purchase a meal on the Sabbath. After all, emergencies and unexpected situations do arise from time to time and take a variety of forms, so it is up to the conscience of the “believer” to determine if it would be appropriate to do on God’s day.


This is a very interesting argument primarily because it has very little to do with an ox and more to do with hunger pangs. In other words, as a general rule, the advocates of this reasoning are using it to justify buying and selling on the Sabbath, as opposed to exploring how God truly wants His people to manage genuine emergencies.
There are dozens of “reasons” God’s people have advanced as legitimate emergencies justifying going to a restaurant on the Sabbath – in other words, “an ox in a ditch.” But the real question that needs to be addressed is:

Where is the ox and where is the ditch?

If God’s people are going to invoke the principle of “an ox in a ditch” to justify dining out on the Sabbath, they would be well advised to understand the principle the Messiah was conveying when giving this lesson.

When Jesus gave this very important principle regarding the Sabbath, He was dining at the home of a prominent Pharisee. Also there was a man suffering from “dropsy,” an abnormal and painful accumulation of fluid in the tissue of the body. Some believe this man was placed in front of Jesus in an attempt to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.

Jesus seized upon this moment to teach a valuable lesson about compassion. He began by asking these religious leaders if it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath. When they did not answer Him, Jesus healed the man. Perhaps anticipating a reaction from these “pious” leaders, Jesus posed another question:

"Which of you shall have a son or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not pull him out on the Sabbath day? (Luke 14:5)

Jesus’ question silenced these men because it not only appealed to their understanding of the scriptures, but to rabbinical law which also provided for such acts of mercy. By invoking the law, Jesus was cutting through all the potential arguments these men may have been crafting. However, His words and actions were saying much more. The point He was making was that sometimes life does not go according to plan. There can be unexpected twists and turns. In short: an ox can fall into a pit.
However, there is a principle here that should be honored. The ox in a ditch is the exception, not the rule. Accidents happen and emergencies arise unexpectedly, but as a matter of habit, we should take time to worship the One who redeemed us.
The Sabbath is a day with profound meaning. It was created by God as evidence that He has an incredible plan for mankind. That plan reflects a great wisdom and an infinite love for His children. God made the Sabbath so that His children could know Him and the hope of His Kingdom. The Sabbath pictures that Kingdom. And those who honor it honor what it pictures.

When God gave the command to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, He wasn’t simply instructing the children of Israel to be aware of when this day occurs. It is not simply a cognitive test of knowledge. The Sabbath is a test of faith. A test to see if His people will declare their loyalty to Him and His kingdom (Ex. 16:4; Matt. 6:33).

Honoring God’s Sabbath is done by acting out that kingdom every week. In a very real sense, God’s Sabbath is His signature on a great moral code Jesus described in one word: LOVE. Honoring this day, as God instructed, is the profound responsibility of every Christian. But there is more. To keep the Sabbath as God commands is also a great privilege. God’s people should see it as an honor bestowed upon them by none other than the King of Eternity.