Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath
November 24, 2021
Commentary
The Pharisees believed there was great merit in fasting. In the Old Testament, only one fast was commanded, the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27). Yet over time, many additional fasts were added, and by Jesus’ day, the Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12). They used this practice to question why Jesus’ disciples did not fast. While fasting can be meaningful, the problem was that their fasting often became a display of self-righteousness. They wanted others to notice their devotion, but their actions were more about outward appearance than sincerity. True fasting must come from the heart, not from a desire for attention.
In His response, Jesus did not reject fasting but placed it in the right perspective. He compared His presence to that of a bridegroom at a wedding. “Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?” (v. 19). While He was with them, it was a time of joy, not mourning. When He would be taken away, then fasting would have meaning. The message of the gospel requires transformed hearts, not outward religion. Ritual without true devotion leads only to pride and misses the purpose of knowing God.
Later, as Jesus and His disciples walked through grain fields on the Sabbath, the disciples picked heads of grain. The Pharisees accused them for breaking the law. However, the law allowed this action (Deut. 23:25); their concern was about Sabbath rules. Jesus reminded them of David eating the sacred bread when he was in need (I Sam. 21:1–6). This showed that meeting human needs is more important than ritual. Jesus declared, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath”. Therefore, “the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath” (vv. 27-28). True faith values a relationship with God over outward rules.
Application
Do I practice faith to be seen, or to know God? When I pray or fast, is my heart sincere? Am I focusing on rules or on a real relationship with Him? I will choose joy in Jesus, care for people’s needs, and seek a humble heart. What is one way I can live this out today? What motive is guiding my actions right now?
Mark 2:18–28 (NET)
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. So they came to Jesus and said, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?” 19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they do not fast. 20 But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and at that time they will fast. 21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be destroyed. Instead new wine is poured into new wineskins.”
23 Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way. 24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?” 25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry— 26 how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his companions?” 27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. 28 For this reason the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
Prayer And Fasting Conference
Church bulletin – National Prayer and Fasting Conference announcement: “The cost to attend the Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals.” (Source Unknown).