Mark 2:23-28 - A Sabbath for Man
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From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
Rules: Cell phones, questions and comments (be brief), stay on track, be respectful
Rules: Cell phones, questions and comments (be brief), stay on track, be respectful
Pray
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
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
A problem with legalism
Mark 2:23-24
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
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
Knowing the Bible is important Mark 2:24-26
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
Truly observing the Sabbath Mark 2:27-28
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
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
Prayer
Discussion and Questions
Discussion and Questions