Mark 2:23-28 NRSVue
23One Sabbath he was going through the grain fields, and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food, 26how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions?” 27Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath, 28so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”
Reflection on Mark 2:23-28
Inspiration from 2025-01-21 Daily Prayer
Jesus in his humanity knows what it is like to be hungry and thirsty and he approves of David’s actions. Our religion should never become a religion of do’s and don’ts but one where we become more and more trusting in our God’s loving providence.
The Jewish manmade rules about keeping the sabbath were a frequent source of disputes between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus always sought the good of people, so the keeping of the sabbath is for our benefit. God is not in need of our worship for his happiness, but we have need of God. We acknowledge this by giving time to prayer.
Further reflection
The Pharisees were skilful at pointing out deficiencies in others. Before God I review my thoughts and words to take care but I do not measure the world by my own small scale.
Jesus calls me to live in responsible freedom, being neither slavish nor careless. As I ask God to guide me, I give thanks as I realise that I am already guided by God.
The Pharisees were skilful at pointing out deficiencies in others. Before God I review my thoughts and words to take care but I do not measure the world by my own small scale.
Jesus calls me to live in responsible freedom, being neither slavish nor careless. As I ask God to guide me, I give thanks as I realise that I am already guided by God.
/The Sabbath was made for man./ Whenever blind authoritarianism confronts common sense, this word of Jesus holds us. It is not easy to apply, and the Pharisees thought it revolutionary. They had extended the two great commandments: /Love God and love your neighbour,/ into 612 regulations, a spider’s web of constraints that stunted the spirit.