Scripture Text (NRSV)
Mark 2:23-3:6
2:23 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as
they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.
2:24 The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on
the sabbath?"
2:25 And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his
companions were hungry and in need of food?
2:26 He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the
bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat,
and he gave some to his companions."
2:27 Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not
humankind for the sabbath;
2:28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."
3:1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered
hand.
3:2 They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that
they might accuse him.
3:3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come forward."
3:4 Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath,
to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.
3:5 He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of
heart and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his
hand was restored.
3:6 The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the
Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Comments:
The Sabbath was meant for
rest, not legalism. Jesus’ disciples were hungry, and He allowed them to pluck
grain. Let’s focus on compassion over rigid rules.
The Pharisees were right to question Jesus. The Law is sacred! We must uphold
it. Sabbath-breaking is a slippery slope. So, why would Jesus deliberately step
on it? What can be the point of his teaching here when elsewhere he said that he
has come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it?
Jesus is our compassionate Savior. He prioritized people over rituals. It's not
that Jesus is advocating for breaking the divine law, but rather breaking with
human-made and strictly enforced rules.
I can't help but wonder if Jesus intentionally provoked the Pharisees here? And
if so, to what end did he do it? To teach them? Or did he use their rigidity as
a contrast to help his disciples understand the nature of God's grace with in
the law?
The Sabbath is about balance. Jesus honored the lawfulness of the sabbath while
balancing its rules with human need.
Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. His authority transcends rules.”
Minister Compassion: “Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Compassion should guide our
actions.
Jesus’ actions reveal
grace’s supremacy. The Sabbath may be a law, but the grace of God it contains
points toward the care of the human beings for which it was instituted.
The Sabbath is a gift. Jesus redefines the pharisee's wrong interpretation. In
doing so, Jesus liberates us from legalism.
Jesus balances law and love. We must do the same.
Sabbath renewal through Jesus—true rest is spiritual.
Jesus always seems to
harmonize law and love. In this case, it's the Sabbath law he brings back to
it's original design as intended by God. The Sabbath may be a law, but it's
whole purpose is inspired by the care and love of God for God's children.
