6. Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

Luke 6:1-5

Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands. ² But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?”

³ Jesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he, and those who were with him; ⁴ how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?”

⁵ He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:23-28

He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields, and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain. ²⁴The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

²⁵He said to them, “Did you never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry—he, and those who were with him? ²⁶How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?”

²⁷He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Matthew 12:1-8

At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. ² But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

³ But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him; ⁴ how he entered into God’s house, and ate the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests? ⁵ Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?

⁶ “But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. ⁷ But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Key Verses:

He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)

“But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. ⁷ But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Mat 12:6-8)

Cross References:

“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you— this trampling of My courts? Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me— your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations. I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:11-17 BSB)

With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8 BSB)

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (10) For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. (11) Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11 BSB)

Discuss:

What is man’s idea of the Sabbath?
What is God’s meaning of the Sabbath? (See also Hebrews 4:9-11)
Does it matter what day we rest?

Insights:

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Take-Aways:

What lessons can we take away from this story? – REPLY IN COMMENTS!