JESUS, LORD OF THE SABBATH
Mark 2:23-2:28
Key Verse: 2:27, 28
Last week Jesus came not to call the righteous but sinners. Jesus taught them the true meaning of righteousness. Today Jesus is going to protect his disciples from misplaced religiosity and revel his authority once again.
1. Read verses 23-24. What did Jesus’ disciples do one Sabbath?
As they were walking through the grain field they picked some heads of grain.
Why?
They were most likely hungry and natural instinct and the Bible tells us that it is ok for people to take some of the left over grains to eat.
Why did the Pharisees criticize Jesus’ disciples? (See Ex. 20:8-11)
Exodus 20:8-11
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
The Pharisees criticized because they were breaking the Sabbath law. The Pharisees had determined that the disciples were working on the Sabbath according to their definition.
How and why did they miss the point of the law?
The point of the law was to help people to rest in God on the Sabbath and recharge their spirit in fellowship with God for the next week. The point of the law was not to remain motionless, but to refrain from doing work in place of worshiping God. There motive here was not to honor God, but to catch Jesus in a trap. Without knowledge of the true motive of the Sabbath people become critical of others lack of obedience.
2. Read verses 25-26. How did Jesus defend his disciples’ cause? (1 Sam. 21)
1 Samuel 21
” David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?"
David answered Ahimelech the priest, "The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, 'No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find."
But the priest answered David, "I don't have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women."
David replied, "Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men's things are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!" So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.
Now one of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the LORD; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul's head shepherd.
David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king's business was urgent."
The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one."
David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances:
" 'Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands'?"
David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?"”
To whom did Jesus compare himself and his disciples in defending them?
Jesus compared himself to King David and his companions. David was the greatest King of Israel and a national hero held in high esteem by the Pharisees.
What can we learn from David’s example? (See 1 Sa. 21:1-9; 22:14-16, 20)
David knew God’s commands and about the bread of the presence but he also knew he had to feed 500 people, which was more important. God gave us the law to save us, not to starve us. Jesus here though of the Pharisees and told them that even David violated the law in order to save his men.
Why did Jesus use scripture?
Jesus used the word of God, which the Pharisees knew to show God’s heart. He also used this story about King David to protect his disciples from accusations.
3. Read verse 27. Who made the Sabbath? (Ge 2:3; Ex 20:8-11)
Genesis 2:3
“And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
God made the Sabbath day for his purpose. For man’s rest and his benefit.
What does it mean that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath?
The Sabbath was made so that man can rest in God on that day. Law was made to help man – to encourage him to worship.
What is real rest? (Mt 11:28-30)
Matthew 11:28-30
” "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."”
Real rest is when we come to Jesus and cast all our sins and burdens on him and receive forgiveness of sins and fellowship. Jesus helps us carry our burdens and gives us true rest. Rest is when we co-work with God and walk together, like Abraham and Noah.
4. Read verse 28. Why did Jesus say that the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath?
He said this to show that Jesus has authority even over the Sabbath and that he was not under its supposed restriction. Jesus is above the concept of the Sabbath because he created it. Jesus is not restricted by his own law.
What does this mean?
It means that he shows that he is God, and is not restricted by man’s rules.
How does discipleship under Jesus satisfy all the requirements of the Law?
When we follow Jesus, we love God, and find true rest in Jesus who help carry our burdens. This fulfills the law by having us worship God and honor the Sabbath.
What can you learn from Jesus in this passage?
That mercy comes above adherence to God’s laws. Jesus is creator. Jesus made the Sabbath and the 10 commandments. Jesus disciples are innocent because Jesus declares that he has authority to interpret that he is the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus should be the center of worship.