Episode 24S46 Mark 2:23-3:6 Sabbath ( 11/24/2024 written by Joy Abitria)
Hello everyone. I hope you had a chance to listen to the song titled “Come to Jesus (Rest in Him)” by Jordan Kauflin and Matt Merker. This song conveys that rest can only be found in Jesus & that Jesus invites the weary, the heavy laden, the hopeless and the sorrowful to come to him because he is the only one who can give real rest. As stated in the gospel account according to Matthew,
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Let’s Pray
Today, we will be discussing and later portion of Mark chapter 2 and the first 6 verses of Mark chapter 3. This section of Mark covers the Sabbath. Let’s first listen from Mark chapter 2:23 up to Mark chapter 3:6 before we begin our talk. I’ll use the audio recording of the TCB (Tagalog Contemporary Bible) and you’ll see in the screen the text of both the TCB and NIV.
| Mark 2 (TCB) 23Isang Araw ng Pamamahinga, habang dumadaan sina Jesus sa triguhan, nagsimulang mamitas ng trigo ang mga tagasunod niya. 24Kaya sinabi sa kanya ng mga Pariseo, “Tingnan mo ang mga tagasunod mo! Bakit nila ginagawa ang ipinagbabawal sa Araw ng Pamamahinga?” 25Sinagot sila ni Jesus, “Hindi nʼyo ba nabasa sa Kasulatan ang ginawa ni David at ng mga kasama niya nang magutom sila at walang makain? 26Pumasok si David sa bahay ng Dios noong si Abiatar ang punong pari. Kinain ni David ang tinapay na inihandog sa Dios, at binigyan pa niya ang mga kasamahan niya, kahit na ayon sa Kautusan, ang mga pari lang ang may karapatang kumain nito.” 27At sinabi pa ni Jesus sa kanila, “Ginawa ang Araw ng Pamamahinga para sa ikabubuti ng tao. Hindi ginawa ang tao para sa ikabubuti ng Araw ng Pamamahinga. 28Kaya ako na Anak ng Tao ang makapagsasabi kung ano ang nararapat gawin sa Araw ng Pamamahinga.” | Mark 2 (NIV) 23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 27Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” |
| Mark 3 (TCB) 1Muling pumasok si Jesus sa sambahan ng mga Judio. May isang lalaki roon na paralisado ang isang kamay. 2Araw ng Pamamahinga noon, kaya binantayang mabuti ng mga Pariseo si Jesus kung pagaga-lingin niya ang lalaking iyon, upang may maiparatang sila laban sa kanya. 3Sinabi ni Jesus sa lalaking paralisado ang kamay, “Halika rito sa harapan.” 4Pagkatapos, tinanong niya ang mga Pariseo, “Alin ba ang ipinapahintulot ng Kautusan sa Araw ng Pamamahinga: ang gumawa ng mabuti o ang gumawa ng masama? Ang magligtas ng buhay o ang pumatay?” Pero hindi sila sumagot. 5Galit silang tiningnan ni Jesus, pero nalungkot din siya sa katigasan ng kanilang mga puso. Bumaling siya sa lalaki at sinabi, “Iunat mo ang iyong kamay!” Iniunat nga ng lalaki ang kanyang kamay at gumaling ito. 6Agad na umalis ang mga Pariseo at nakipagpulong sa mga tauhan ni Haring Herodes. Pinagusapan nila kung paano nila ipapapatay si Jesus. | Mark 3 (NIV) 1Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? ”But they remained silent. 5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand. ”He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. |
Let’s discuss these verses in Mark pertaining to the sabbath.
In chapter 2 verses 23-28 we have the story of Jesus’ disciples picking grains on a Sabbath and the Pharisees complaining that Jesus’ disciples are doing what is unlawful. Again in chapter 3 verses 1-6, we see here the teachers of the law watching out if Jesus would do an something that they considered unlawful on the sabbath. Then Jesus performs a healing of a man with a shriveled hand. On both occasions where the Pharisees and teachers of the law accuses Jesus of doing something unlawful, but Jesus addresses their wrong understanding of the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is very important to the Jews. In general Jews believe that you are not supposed to do any work during the Sabbath.
However, based on the scriptures what do we know about the sabbath?
The first time we see the word “sabat” in the scriptures is in Exodus chapter 16 in which the scripture tells us the story of God giving “mana” to the Israelites in the wilderness. The Israelites were instructed to gather as much as they need for the day and to not keep any of it until morning. However, some did not obey the instruction and kept some mana the next day wherein they found it full of maggots and smelled bad. After that they only gathered mana that they would use for the day. On the 6th day, they were instructed to gather portions for 2 days. And in verses 23 to 30 we read:
23He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’ ”
24So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25“Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”
27Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30So the people rested on the seventh day.
In these verses, we see that the only prohibition was not to go out & gather mana on the 7th day but instead they were instructed to rest.
The next scene in the bible where we see the word sabbath again is the 10 commandments accounted in Exodus 20:8-11 where it states:
8“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Then the next mentioned of the sabbath is found in Exodus 31:12-18. These verses is part of the conversation of God & Moses up in Mt. Sainai when God gave moses the 2 tablets of the covenant law inscribed by the finger of God.
12Then the Lord said to Moses, 13“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
14“ ‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’ ”
18When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
Both in Exodus 20 & Exodus 31, we see the prohibition of working but, the next question is what is considered work? During the time of Jesus, the Jews have a list of the categories of work that are not allowed on Sabbath. Even today, orthodox Jews try to observe it. However, what can we find in the Old Testament scripture regarding specifics which God said people are not allowed to do on the Sabbath.
Upon research, these are the list I’ve found that God specifically said not to do on the Sabbath.
- Gathering mana (Ex. 16) – we talked about this already. However, this prohibition specific to mana gathering ended when the Israelites entered the promised land and God stopped giving them the mana.
- Lighting fire (Ex. 35:1-3) – In here Moses re-iterates the command of 6 days for work and the 7th is to be a sabbath rest and this statement is added in verse 3, “Do not light a fire in your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”
- Sowing fields or pruning vineyards (Lev. 25) – this is more associated with the sabbath year wherein the Israelites were commanded to rest the land every 7 years by not cultivating the land
- Gathering wood (Num. 15:32-36) – this accounts a man that was caught gathering wood during the sabbath, Moses & Aaron consulted God on what to do to this man & they were told to give the death penalty
- Carrying a load (Jer. 17:21-22) – this accounts the people doing business & carrying their merchandise to Jerusalem even during the Sabbath.
Other than these, most references on the prohibitions on the sabbath listed in the Old Testament is simply the generic command of not doing any work. However, there is an interesting passage in Deuteronomy 5:12-15 which gives us a bit of insight of why God commanded the Israelites to observe the Sabbath day.
12“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. 15Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
Based on these passage sabbath observance is for the Israelites to remember that it was God who has given them rest from their slavery. Also, again based on Exodus 31:16-17,
16The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’ ”
Sabbath was supposed to be a sign of God’s covenant with the Israelites. The covenant/agreement wherein the Israelites were supposed to follow/obey the statutes of God and God will bless them in return.
However, during the time of Jesus, the teachers of the law has reduced sabbath to following a bunch of rules on which categories of work that are forbidden on Sabbath. And we see in the gospel accounts several stories of confrontations between the Jewish religious leaders and Jesus.
Here is the list of the stories in the New Testament wherein Jesus’ does something on the sabbath that the religious leaders thinks were unlawful. In these accounts Jesus highlights the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and points out important points about the sabbath.
- Disciples picking grain (Mark 2, Matthew 12, Luke 6)
- Healing miracles
- Man with shriveled hand (Mark 3, Matthew 12)
- Woman crippled for 18 years (Luke 13:10-17)
- Man suffering from abnormal swelling (Luke 14:1-6)
- Invalid for 38 years in the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-17) Highlight verse 17
- Blind man from birth (John 9)
- Healing miracles
In most of these accounts, Jesus uses it to teach everyone that doing good on the Sabbath is lawful in the eyes of God. But the one thing I would like to highlight is Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees when they complained to him that his disciples where picking grains on the Sabbath. In Mark 2:27-28 Jesus says
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Also in the account in Matthew 12:8 and Luke 6:5, Jesus says
“The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”
Here in Mark 2, Jesus emphasizes that the Sabbath was for man. Remember again when we looked at the Old Testament that observing sabbath was given so that the Israelites would remember that it was God who saved them from slavery and has given them rest and it was sign of their covenant with God. Also, Jesus states here that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. Being the Lord makes him the boss, meaning he has every right to make the call on what is allowed on the Sabbath.
So as a follower of Jesus Christ, what are we supposed to do with the Sabbath? Should we observe it like the Jews did? Does it apply to us? Is there anything required for us to do? Since Sabbath was given by the Lord, we therefore should consult the scripture for the answer to these questions.
We can look at the advice that Paul gave to the Romans when the Jewish and the gentile Christians in the Roman church was also trying to settle their differences especially regarding the sabbath. In Romans 14:5-6
5One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
The Sabbath observance that the Jews have practiced in the Old Testament was a shadow of the Sabbath-rest that we can find in Jesus. We can find this in Paul’s advice written in Colossians 2:16-17.
16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Hebrews 4:1-11 also supports this idea. [Context] Before this passage in Hebrews 4, the writer tells the story of the Israelites that wandered for 40 years in the wilderness because of their disobedience & unbelief. It is interesting that the writer of Hebrews compares entering the promised land as entering God’s promise rest.
1Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
6Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to enter that Rest (which was represented by the Sabbath in the Old Testament) when we rest in Jesus. We may not need to observe the Sabbath as the Jews, however I think it is good idea to observe a day of rest. I think our physical body requires rest. I also think that doing work for 6 days and taking 1 day of rest in a week is an exercise of faith in God that he will provide our needs even if we don’t dedicate everyday of life to working. Also, as Jesus said, “Sabbath is made for man & not man for the sabbath” so I think taking a day off is gift that we can enjoy from the Lord.
Let’s close and pray.
Don’t forget to do your homework for next week. Read Mark Chapter 3. See you next week.
Before we end. I want you to watch the music video of the song titled “Jesus, I am Resting, Resting” by Steve Green. This song tells us that we can rest in the joy of who Jesus is and rest in the greatness of his love.
Thank you and God’s Bless you, this week.
