Tuesday, July 16, 2024

How does Jesus counter the charge brought by the Pharisees over Breaking the Sabbath? (Mark 2:23-28)


 

In Mark 2:23–28, Jesus and his disciples are walking through grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples begin to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees see this and accuse them of doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath. Jesus counters this charge with several points:


David's Example

Jesus refers to the incident in the time of Abiathar the high priest when David, in need and hunger, ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for priests to eat. This shows that human need can take precedence over ritual law (Mark 2:25-26).


Purpose of the Sabbath

Jesus declares that "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). This means that the Sabbath is meant to benefit people, not to impose unnecessary burdens on them.


Authority of the Son of Man

 Jesus concludes by asserting his authority over the Sabbath, saying, "So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28). This emphasizes that He has the authority to interpret and apply Sabbath laws.


By using these points, Jesus highlights the importance of mercy, human need, and His own authority, challenging the Pharisees' strict and legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath laws.





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