Mark 2:23-28 - A Sabbath for Man

From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”

Rules: Cell phones, questions and comments (be brief), stay on track, be respectful

Pray

Mark 2:23–28 NASB95

And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. 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 he and his companions became hungry; how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Review and introduction: Works and the Law, The Gospel and Grace

Today: Right and wrong understandings of the Commandments and Law

In this verse:

Jesus and His disciples in grain field - plucking heads of grain to eat

Pharisees accuse - some offense

Their beliefs get turned on their head

Sabbath is not a condemnation trap

A problem with legalism

Mark 2:23-24

Mark 2:23–24 NASB95

And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

Pharisees were legalists - rules are for judgement

Only concerned with the outward appearance of religion

Added their own rules

Their godliness: washing, fasting, proper dress

Repentance, faith, holiness overlooked

Pharisees wouldn’ have cared if there were an offense against the moral law - not concerned with inward sin and wickedness

No concern with covetousness, lying, extortion, excess - these were their sins

Man-made tradition violation - then they complain, judge

Lesson: We need to watch and pray

Legalism is a real danger

Many today are more concerned with outward appearances than real faithfulness/heart matters

Everyone’s soul is in a bad state - sin

Evidence - Spiritual arrogance - more concern with man-made rites than preaching the Word

Shows spiritual disease

Shows a bad conscience

Fixation on rules is a cause for real concern

Galatians 4:10–11 NASB95

You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

Knowing the Bible is important Mark 2:24-26

Mark 2:24–26 NASB95

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 he and his companions became hungry; how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?”

Jesus replies to the Pharisees from Scripture - thus begins the lesson

The Pharisees had added their own rules to the Law and Jesus proved it.

Pharisees could not deny that David, who wrote Psalms and was a man after God’s own heart, would set a bad example

David was without sin, except for the matter with Uriah and Bathsheba

Here Jesus shows that David had done exactly as He and His disciples were doing

Pharisees had no reply

Sword of the Spirit was a weapon they could not fight

They were shamed

Lesson: Our reason for faith and practice - it’s written in the Bible - what does Scripture say?

We need the Word of God to settle our debates

Our most powerful argument should be a scripture quote/text

In a world that regularly attacks Christians, we may be sure that nothing silences adversaries like Scripture

Lesson: Be like the Lord: know your Bible: Hear, read, study, meditate, memorize

Bible knowledge is gained by study

To use the Bible effectively, must know it

Students of the Bible, only, will have an effective weapon in the battle

Truly observing the Sabbath Mark 2:27-28

Mark 2:27–28 NASB95

Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Great wisdom in these words - only found in this gospel

Sabbath was made for man

God made it for Adam in paradise

Renewed it when He gave the law to Moses at Mt Sinai

Made for all, not just the Jews

Good for body, mind, soul

Supposed to be a blessing, not a burden

Original intent

Man was not made for the Sabbath

Never intended to hinder health, basic needs

Not intended to do harm, prevent helping those in need

Pharisees had forgotten this, or gotten distracted by their other traditions

Example: Elevators in Israeli hotels

Some teach that Jesus did away with the fourth commandment - not so

Fourth commandment is a privilege and a gift to us

Works of mercy and necessity are allowed

Must still remember the day and keep it holy

We must endeavor as best we can to keep the Sabbath

If you have to work Sunday, then celebrate on a different day

Today the Sabbath is ignored by many Christians - its a shame that so many sports are on the Sabbath

We need to do our best to observe the Sabbath

Bringing it home

Let us beware of falling into legalism (Pharisaicalism)

Let us resolve to study our Bibles diligently. 1 Peter 3:15 “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”

Let us keep the Sabbath

A day to rest and honor the Lord

Sunday if possible

Many catastrophes hit Israel because they ignored this command

It’s good for us.

Prayer

Discussion and Questions