Mark 2:23-28
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.
24 And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
25 But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:
26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”
27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
Mark 3:1-6
Healing on the Sabbath
3 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.
2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.
3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.”
4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.
5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Context
- Why is the sabbath important? (Genesis 2:3, Exodus 20:8-11, 31:12-17, Deuteronomy 5:12-15)
Reflection
- What was their problem with the disciples gleaning? (Exodus 16:22, 20:10, 34:21, Deuteronomy 23:25, John 5:8-10, 16, 17)
- Why does God desire mercy over sacrifice? (Hosea 6:6, Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 58:1-8, Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:7, Mark 3:4)
- Why was Jesus ‘angry’ with the Pharisees?
- What was so powerful about His questions? (1 Samuel 21:1-6, Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 2:5, Luke 6:6-11, 11:39-44, John 5:18, 9:1-34)
- How is Jesus both Lord of the Sabbath & the fulfillment of the sabbath rest? (Matthew 5:17, Hebrews 3:6, 12-14, 4:1-3, 8-10, 14-16, Revelation 14:11-13)
Testimony Time
- How can traditions taken our focus off of Jesus? (Colossians 2:16, 17)
- What’s your sabbath day to rest your body & restore your soul? (Psalm 23:2, 3, Isaiah 40:31, Matthew 11:28, 29)