The Sabbath Controversy
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· 6 viewsLegalism robs people of joy, while Jesus has come to bring joy and gladness.
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Introduction:
Have you ever seen Christians fight and criticize one another over clothing? Should Christians wear yoga pants? Or should Christians wear only pants in service?
Have you ever seen Christians fight and criticize one another over what ministries they participate in or ministries they do not participate in?
Have you ever seen Christians fight and criticize one another over what they eat or drink? Whether it was alcohol or whether a Christian should drink free trade coffee?
Have you ever seen Christians disagree over what movies they should or shouldn’t watch? Should a Christian watch Harry Potter? Or Christian watch Game of Thrones?
Have you ever seen Christians disagree over political beliefs? Or which political party you belong to? Think about Republicans or Democrats? Whether one was pro duarte or against?
Have you ever seen Christians disagree over bible translations? KJV or ESV? NIV? CSB?
Have you ever seen Christians disagree over what company they keep?
Have you ever been criticized for what you did on the Lord’s Day? Whether a Christian can play sports on Sunday or play video games?
Have you ever seen Christians disagree over schooling? Public schooling or home schooling? Private Christian schools or Secular private schools?
Or what about tattoos? Should Christians get them or shouldn’t?
If so, you may have seen the problem of legalism at work in churches. This is not to say that any of these issues are not important, however, when one makes one of these issues essential to being a Christian or essential to salvation you have crossed the line and entered into legalism.
There is a form of godly criticism and ungodly criticism.
What is legalism?
Legalism is raising to the level of biblical mandate and command what God has neither commanded nor prohibited in His Word. It is taking our traditions and preferences and imposing them on others as an act of spiritual superiority, even though the Bible does not make such practices universally prescriptive.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 59). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Legalism is the tendency to regard as divine law things that God has neither required nor forbidden in Scripture, and the corresponding inclination to look with suspicion on others for their failure or refusal to conform…Do you elevate the status of moral law something that the Bible does not require? Sam Storms, pg. 311.
Legalism has always been a problem in church throughout the centuries. It has even been a problem within this church. And Legalism puts burdens on people that crush them.
Transition.
And as we will see today, the same was true in Jesus day. The Pharisees, in their zeal and desire to separate, fell into the trap of legalism and condemned Jesus and his disciples whenever they did not go along with their man made traditions.
Legalism is burdensome and ultimately harmful to people while Jesus brings blessing and healing through his ministry.
The big idea of this passage is that Legalism brings sadness, while Jesus came to bring gladness.
Background:
Jesus’ conflict with the religious leaders is escalating. Already they made accusations against Jesus concerning his claim to forgive sins, his fellowship with sinners, his neglect of fasting, and now in this passage they accuse Jesus of violating the Sabbath.
And as we will see today, Jesus corrects his opponents misunderstandings and interpretations of the Law, and show how He comes to bring refreshment, blessing, and ultimate healing while legalism produces nothing but restrictions, burdens, and ultimate harm to individuals.
And the passage is a remainder for us not to impose man made traditions on others, and look to Jesus who brings joy and liberty and love in our lives. And there will be times where for the sake of love, we will give up our liberties so that the gospel would continue to go forth and God would be glorified.
Scripture Reading:
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
This is the reading of God’s Holy, Inerrant, and Inspired Word. The first lesson we learn from our text is that...
I. Legalism is Restrictive, while Jesus brings Refreshment (vv. 23-26)
I. Legalism is Restrictive, while Jesus brings Refreshment (vv. 23-26)
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
If the Baptism and the Lord’s Supper were the two signs/badges of the Christian, it was Sabbath keeping and circumcision in the OT.
If the Baptism and the Lord’s Supper were the two signs/badges of the Christian, it was Sabbath keeping and circumcision in the OT.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark ‘Lord of the Sabbath’ (2:23–3:6)
The observance of the sabbath was one of the principal distinguishing marks of the Jews as the people of God (sabbath and circumcision were the two most obvious such ‘badges’), and as such was promoted and defended with more than merely pietistic zeal.
And the Pharisees had interpretations and oral traditions that explained what constitutes a violation of the Sabbath. Everyone agreed that one should keep the Sabbath, the issue was how to keep the Sabbath. In fact, they had an oral tradition of scribes who would interpret what it means to faithfully follow the Sabbath. In their oral law, there would be 39 rules or violations of the Sabbath.
I. Restrictions vs. Refreshment (vv. 23-26)
If the Baptism and the Lord’s Supper were the two signs/badges of the Christian, it was Sabbath keeping and circumcision in the OT.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark ‘Lord of the Sabbath’ (2:23–3:6)
At its heart lies the list of thirty-nine prohibited acts in m. Šab. 7:2 (which include ‘reaping’, hence the objection in 2:24), but these in turn are then worked out in terms of specific situations and eventualities.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 59). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
I. Restrictions vs. Refreshment (vv. 23-26)
I. Restrictions vs. Refreshment (vv. 23-26)
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.
Mark: An Introduction and Commentary v. Controversy about the Sabbath (2:23–28)
Pulling ears of corn was ‘reaping’, and that was one of the thirty-nine activities specifically forbidden on the sabbath (Anderson). Schweizer also points out that even ‘walking’ was a breach of sabbath law, unless the distance was strictly limited.
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
Mark: An Introduction and Commentary v. Controversy about the Sabbath (2:23–28)
Pulling ears of corn was ‘reaping’, and that was one of the thirty-nine activities specifically forbidden on the sabbath (Anderson). Schweizer also points out that even ‘walking’ was a breach of sabbath law, unless the distance was strictly limited.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark Lord of the Sabbath (2:23–28)
Amplifying Exod 35:1–3, the Mishnah lists thirty-nine classes of work that profane the Sabbath, including those we might expect, such as plowing, hunting, and butchering, and those we would not, such as tying or loosening knots, sewing more than one stitch, or writing more than one letter (m. Shab. 7:2).
Now the technically the disciples or Jesus did not break any rules. What they did break was their traditions and interpretation of the rules. Some Jewish interpretations said that if you walk more than 1900 steps, you were working on the Sabbath.
If you go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.
OT Story:
What does Jesus do? Have you not read? We must always go to Scripture.
Jesus is the greater David.
And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him:
I think there is a bit of sarcasm here from Jesus. These were the experts and interpreters of the Law. They were supposed to be experts in the OT, yet they did not know their OT. There is an indirect rebuke here on Jesus part.
Application: Know Your Bible Better
One way to break legalism in the church is to know your bible better. Get to know what God commands and what he doesn’t command. Get to know how the whole Bible relates and fits together. Emphasize the main things in Scripture, while giving liberty to the secondary things. When you know your Bible better, you will not bind your conscience to things in Scripture where it doesn’t
In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity
In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity
READ BEFORE YOUR OPEN THE BIBLE
When you disagree with a brother over an issue, it is always good to go to what does the Bible say about the issue. Stand hard on the principles and be loose with the preferences.
Jesus directs them to an OT story where David and his companions were hungry.
The story that Jesus chooses is the story of David and his companions while they were fleeing from King Saul. David was the anointed King. And in , David is allowed to eat bread along with his companions that was supposed to be only reserved for the priests and the temple. Let’s read it quickly together:
Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.
how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?”
Error in Scripture?
To account for the apparent disrepency Ahimelech was Abiathar’s Father. But it is an easy way to resolve the issue because the ESV translates in the time of Abiathar. Abiathar was more well known, so it would like be saying the age of Abiathar. Another way to resolve the issue is that maybe Abiathar was more familiar and the Jew would know where in Scripture to turn to find the story.
Why David Didn’t Sin
Anyways, David and his men go to Nob to the Tabernacle and ask for bread. The only bread that the priest had was the holy bread, which symbolized God’s provision for Israel. The twelve loaves of bread would be replaced every Sabbath and the old bread would be given only to the priest to eat.
The priest allowed David to eat the bread because he was in (1) need and he was (2) the anointed King of Israel even though he was fleeing from Saul.
And Jesus uses this illustration to show that like David, he and his disiciples were hungry and therefore allowed to eat.
Jesus is also implicitly saying He is the Greater David and he is allowed to eat on the Sabbath because as we will see he claims to be not only greater than David, and the Temple, but even greater than the Sabbath.
Application: Be Careful on Placing Rules on People where Scripture Doesn’t
In other words, be careful of binding people’s consciences where Scripture does not bind people. When you elevate secondary or third level issues and place them as first order issues, you may have become a legalist.
Recommend Conscience.
Application: Mercy trumps External Religious Activity
The pharisees were focusing on the the details while missing the big picture. They were focused on the trees while missing the forest. And as Christians, it is easy for us to fight over secondary and even third level issues to miss the point of why the command was given in the first place.
In the medical field, they have a term for this. Triage. So for example, if you are really sick, and you go to urgent care, a nurse will triage you so that they will determined the urgency and need of the situation.
If you go in with a fever, you will wait longer for someone who has broken their arm or someone who needs medical attention.
I remember taking Verity to the ER, and they seen her right away because she was almost not breathing. We went ahead of the line because they diagnosed that the matter was urgent.
And if we are going to bring peace and unity in the church, we must learn to discern which needs warrants our attention or which needs doesn’t. It is called theological triage.
What is primary? Trinity. Salvation by grace. Solas. What is secondary? Church government. Mode of baptism. Practice of communion. What is tertiary? What can a Christian do on the Lord’s day. What type of music. What type of clothing.
The Pharisees were place a second or even third order issue as a primary issue. And they were criticizing Jesus and the disciples for what they were doing on the Sabbath.
Application: Be Aware of Legalism in your Own Heart
All of us have an inward pharisee in our heart. Legalism can make us unkind, critical, self-righteous, and proud when people do not follow our own rules. If you are always pointing at the flaws of others or always telling people what they should or should not do on secondary or third level issues, you fall into the same trap as the Pharisees did in the first century.
Application: Church Covenant
This is why we changed our church covenant awhile back to abstain from drinking to abstain from drunkenness. Nowhere in Scripture does it forbid Christian from drinking alcohol. What it does condemn is being controlled by a substance and drunkenness.
Application: Welcome those who differ than you
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.
Jesus came not to place restrictions upon our lives, but to bring true refreshment and restoration in our lives. He cares for our needs. Jesus is the Greater David and the Greater Temple.
I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
Transition: Legalism is destructive in the church because it limits and restricts people where Scripture does not, and Legalism is destructive because it is a crushing burden.
Mind Your Own Conscience
Mind your own business. Mind your own conscience.
II. Legalism is a Burden, while Jesus brings Blessing (vv. 27-28)
II. Legalism is a Burden, while Jesus brings Blessing (vv. 27-28)
And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
It is like saying iphone was made for man’s productivity, not man exists to serve iphone.
Mark 2:23-2
Sabbath literally means “to cease” from work or activity.
Jesus is saying that the Sabbath was made for man’s enjoyment and refreshment. The Sabbath was never meant to rob joy from men or be a crushing burden upon man. Instead the Pharisees turned this day of joy into doom and gloom. Instead of the sabbath being a celebration, the Sabbath became a funeral. The term holy day is where we get holiday. Instead of holiday, the pharisees turn the Sabbath into a Sad Day.
I remember watching a old film Chocolate. A woman and her daughter travels through different parts of France establishing choclate shops or bakeries. And they arrive in one strict Catholic town of France during the season of lent. During lent, many Catholics will fast and even give up something. Well, in this town it was not eating choclate.
The character Vienne is in more colorful clothing than the townspeople while they are dressed in dark and gloomy colors. The Townspeople and even the Mayor look down on this irreligious woman for not keeping with their tradition. They gossip about her. They talk behind her back. At one point the Mayor even tries to destroy her shop.
And yet some people enter her chocolate shop secretly and buy her chocolate and is the best chocolate they ever tasted. Some people are transformed as the chocolate shop becomes a symbolic refuge of grace and empathy.
And eventually, even the Mayor caves in and eats some of her chocolate and becomes transformed by seeing his own self-righteousness and critical spirit. And the film ends with them celebrating Easter with the towns people eating Viennes chocalate because they have been transformed by grace.
The Sabbath was made as a means of delight and refuge. How kind of God to give us a day where we are not always working and spinning on a wheel like a hamster going nowhere.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’ ”
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
These are the generations
of the heavens and the earth when they were created,
in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
The Sabbath was also a sign of God’s rescue of the people of Israel when they were slaves in Egypt. The Sabbath was not only a sign of rest, but a sign of salvation.
“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.
And what is even more shocking is what Jesus says next: The Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.
Son of Man was an ambiguous term as we have seen. It could refer to humanity in general or it could be a reference to the heavenly divine figure seen in Daniel’s prophecy:
“As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
“As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
Jesus is greater than the Sabbath.
Jesus is saying that He is the Son of Man. He is the divine one. He is in their misdt.
And more than that, Jesus says He is greater than the Sabbath because Jesus is the one who brings true rest. He is saying that He is God.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Application: Jesus gives Rest to the Restless
We are a restless people. We are constantly online, constantly working, constantly chasing for things that do not satisfy our hearts. Whether that is prestige, or money, or a person, we are like hamsters running on a wheel that goes nowhere.
It is only until we see that Jesus has come not to bring sadness, but gladness, will we be change his grace. Jesus did not come to place oppressive burdens on us, but to take our burden.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
His burden is light because he carries our burden. And our greatest burden is our sin.
This is the highlight of the book of Pilgrim’s progress. Christian carries the massive burden of sin upon his life. And only when he goes to the place of deliverance called Calvary, does the burden finally fall off and he becomes a new man as he receives new strength, new identity, new purpose, and new clothing to make the journey to celestial city.
Jesus can carry your burdens. Jesus can give you rest if you are restless.
Application: Lord’s Day a Delight or a Burden?
Application: Lord’s Day a Delight or a Burden?
We Christians do not observe the Sabbath like the Jews in OT, but the principle applies. God has given us the Lord’s day as a celebration. As a feast. As a day of delight and worship and thanksgiving for what He does?
Do you view the Lord’s day as the climax of your week? Or the low point of your week? Do you view the Lord’s Day with eager expectancy? Or one of apathy? Do you see the blessing we receive when we gather together as a family? To hear God speak to us? To remind us that we are now God’s children and God’s family? To remind us of the hope we have in Christ when all hell is breaking lose? The Lord’s day should be a refreshment to your soul and not a burden.
Application: Do not judge others
We come to find delight and rest in Christ.
Transition: Legalism is not only restrictive, life taking, a crushing burden, but it also ultimately harms because it produces pride and neglects the needs of others…the next story is another apparent violation of the Sabbath.
III. Legalism is Harmful, while Jesus brings Healing (vv. 1-6)
III. Legalism is Harmful, while Jesus brings Healing (vv. 1-6)
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.
Jesus is probably in Capernaum at the time. He enters a synagogue and there was a man with a withered or shriveled hand.
And they watched Jesus. When you are a legalist, you are hypercritical and you are watching when people don’t follow your rules. You just look at the failing of others while neglecting your own.
And they were watching to see whether they would heal him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him. People constantly watching on social media what people do. People constantly watching on twitter what people say. You become so proud that you fail to see the log in your own eye.
And there was big massive redwood in the Pharisees eyes. They wanted to use the Sabbath to harm and eventually plot for the downfall of Jesus.
A violation of the Sabbath was a big deal. In the OT, violation of the Sabbath could warrant the death penalty.
You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death.
Here was the irony and hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They wanted to harm Jesus and discredit him because legalism produced spiritual pride and hatred within them.
And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
To put it another way, Jesus drops the mic. The other gospels tell us that Jesus called out their hypocrisy directly by answering another question. The pharisees were willing to help their animals over humans made in the image of God.
And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.
He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
They were silent. They said nothing. They knew Jesus was right.
Jesus was angry (v. 5)
Mark
And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark A Question of Life and Death (3:1–6)
Jesus’ anger is a description of righteous indignation. The greatest enemy of divine love and justice is not opposition, not even malice, but hardness of heart and indifference to divine grace, to which not even disciples of Jesus are immune.
Jesus was angry and grieved at their hardness of heart. Jesus was angry at sin. Jesus was angry at their false religion that would not want to help a man in need. Jesus was angry that they had heard hearts. Jesus hates hypocrisy. He hates pride.
The man had a soft heart towards Jesus. He must have been in a real vulnerable place with all eyes staring at him. Yet, he believed Jesus word. And the moment he listened to Jesus voice and stretched out his hand just as Jesus spoke, his hand began to feel again and his hand was immediately and miraculously restored because Jesus was more than a man.
Application: It is ok to get angry at sin
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
There is a time and place to be angry. We should get angry when injustice is done to people. We should get angry when people harm in the name of God. We should get angry when Christianity is used as a club and sword rather than a means of grace to make people well.
Jesus gets angry at hardness of heart and indifference towards others.
Application: Legalism neglects real human need to promote self-made religion
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Application: Jesus desires mercy and healing, especially on the Lord’s day
It is good to do good to one another on the Lord’s day. To do good to one another, to look out for the needs of the brothers and sisters, and give hope to the Lost. Do you think about how you can encourage others on the Lord’s day?
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Everytime you miss out on church, you miss out on doing good to your brothers.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
The irony of everything is that the Pharisees wanted to harm on the Sabbath while Jesus wanted to heal.
They began to conspire with the Herodians. The Herodians were a group of Jews who were sympathetic to the rule of Herod. Herod was pro-roman rule and was more of a political force than a spiritual force.
The Pharisees would have nothing to do with this group because they believed they were sell-outs by working with the Romans.
But what brought these two groups together was their common hatred of Jesus.
Application: Following Jesus may bring harm and persecution.
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
And the way that Jesus would bring restoration, blessing, and ultimate healing would be through the hands of wicked men who would put him to death by God’s predetermined plan.
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
The gospel would be the only way to break the external and bring healing to the heart.
The gospel is the only way we receive God’s restoration, God’s blessing, and God’s healing.
Mark 2:
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
Gospel
Jesus would come to fulfill the Law for us because we violated God’s Holy Law. Jesus would come to carry our burden and bring us blessing. He would take the burden of sin upon himself, and we would receive every spiritual blessing that was deserved to Him through His perfect obedience and resurrection from the grave. And Jesus came to bring us ultimate joy by healing us of our sin.
Summary:
Legalism restricts and is life taking, while Jesus restores and is life-giving.
Legalism is burdensome, while Jesus brings blessing taking our burdens from us.
Legalism is ultimately harmful because it relies on self and neglects the needs of others, while Jesus brings healing because he laid aside his rights to bring ultimate healing to all who trust in Him.
Conclusion:
I mentioned Pilgrim’s Progress earlier. There are two characters that Christian meets on his way. Mr. Legalilty and his Son Mr. Civility in the village of Morality.
Evangelist meets Christian and tells him he has missed the narrow way because no one could cross Mt. Sinai with all its burdens and demands.
Once he turns away from the counsel of Mr. Legality and Civlity, he returns to the straight and narrow road.
And he finds Calvary where his burden of sin is finally released and he gets new strength for the journey.
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
Cast your burden
Go to calvary again and find refreshment, blessing, and healing even today.