May 3, 2020
Mark 2:23 – 28
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
“ One Sabbath he was going through the grain fields, 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.”
God had given clear direction on what man should and should not do on the Sabbath, it is clear that man was to rest, and not to labor at all. One must remember that the Pharisees are all about appearance and rules, and it is clear that by their standards the disciples were breaking the Sabbath by plucking heads of grain.
He reminds them of David taking the bread when fleeing from King Saul, that only the priest was allowed to eat. The twelve loaves of unleavened bread were placed in the temple's holy places each Sabbath, and they represent the 12 tribes of Israel. David not only lied to the High Priest but was deceptive in getting what he needed to flee from Saul.
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 clear that Jesus is proclaiming His authority over the Sabbath, He is telling the religious guys, you are not worshiping God, but the Sabbath. Was not its purpose to give a day of rest, a day to be still and give praise to God for His many blessings?
I wonder if our lifestyle of busyness has not contributed to much of the physical and mental problems of our nation. Now I’m not talking about the unchurched, but those who are active in worship each Sunday. We the Church are not much different than our unchurched neighbors in many of our actions, could it be that we have a misunderstanding of Jesus as our Sabbath rest?
This morning I ask a friend Erik, his thoughts, and He replied as a follower of Christ each day should be a Sabbath rest. I was silent wanting more information and he directed me to some Scriptures in the New Testament that gave that truth. When the class was over I began a new study on the Sabbath rest, first look at Matthew 12:8, “For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” It would be helpful to read the full account from chapter 12: 1-8.
Explore with me how that is an established truth, it is shown to us in Hebrews 10:12-14, “But when Christ[ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
So, as we go each day we have this promise of a Sabbath rest, from the third person of the Trinity; the Holy Spirit. It is found in Hebrews 10:15-17, And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” I would encourage you to keep reading chapter ten and learn more about your true identity in Christ.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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