Joe’s Dandy Drive In

Series on Old Testament Festivals and Sacred Days – The Sabbath
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Exodus 20:8-11; Hosea 6:1-7; Matthew 12:1-8 

[Many of the festivals and sacred days from the Old Testament don’t seem to be relevant for us today. They may have been significant for the Jews at the time, but not now. In this series, we’re going to take a closer look at the festivals and sacred days to learn what the significance was for the people of Israel at the time. And to learn what the significance is for us today.]

 

In our home when I was growing up, a fried chicken dinner was synonymous with our Sunday meal after church. Often times, Mom would prepare the meal herself. But frequently, we went out for dinner to Joe’s Dandy Drive In.

 

Despite the name, they had a small sit-down dining area. And Joe’s was well known for his fried chicken dinner. As a result, on any given Sunday after church, the place would be packed. But by eating at Joe’s, would we have been causing the employees to break the fourth commandment?           

 

⁸ “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ You have six days each week for your ordinary work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work.     NLT            Exodus 20

 

This command is patterned after the Lord’s creation of the earth in six days and resting on the seventh. But what does it mean to “observe the Sabbath by keeping it holy”? And what does it look like when it says, “no one in your household may do any work”? 

 

Jewish tradition says that there are 613 written commandments in the Mosaic Law. However, as life changed and new situations arose, the Pharisees felt that an Oral Law was needed based on interpretation of the Written Law. As a result, by the first century, there were hundreds of these rules and regulations!

 

Despite this outward appearance of holiness, the people of Israel became so focused on the rules and regulations, that they lost sight of what truly mattered. Through the prophet Hosea, the Lord vented his frustrations with them about this. He also told them what he truly wanted.

 

⁶ “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me.  TLB    Hosea 6

 

When Jesus began his ministry, legalism was still deeply engrained in the Jewish religion and culture. In fact, this caused a significant amount of conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees and other religious leaders. Often times, the conflict centered around violating the Sabbath regulations.

 

In Matthew 12, we read that on the Sabbath Jesus and his disciples, while walking through a grainfield, picked some heads of grain and ate them! When the Pharisees saw this, they confronted Jesus about it. In his disciples’ defense he quoted the above verse from Hosea. But then he added something unexpected; something revolutionary.

 

⁷ But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”     NLT   Matthew 12

 

With this statement, Jesus was basically making himself equal to God. Is it any wonder that the continual conflicts that Jesus experienced with the Jewish religious leaders ultimately led to his crucifixion on the cross.

 

In conclusion, legalism would dictate that you don’t go to Joe’s Dandy Drive In for a fried chicken dinner on Sunday. However, because Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, all bets are off.

 

What he truly wants is to be the Lord of your life and mine. Not just on Sunday, but throughout the whole week!

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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