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.”
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Reflection on Mark 2:23-28
Inspiration from 2027-01-19 Daily Prayer
In Jesus’ time, the legal interpretation of Sabbath laws varied widely, and some had become a burden for the people. In today’s narrative, we have a carefree image of Jesus and the disciples wandering through a cornfield casually plucking grain, but this is disrupted by the Pharisees’ questioning.
The Pharisees are operating out of their heads, whereas Jesus is operating out of the heart, is free-spirited and open. He reminds his detractors that the purpose of the Sabbath is to celebrate the wholeness of humanity and creation, the ‘feast’ to which God calls us.
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.