20 Jan 26 | The Sabbath Was Made for You
God’s commandments are not burdens meant to confine us, they are gifts meant to restore us to freedom and life.
The Gospel: Mark 2:23–28
As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath,
his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.
At this the Pharisees said to him,
“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
He said to them,
“Have you never read what David did
when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?
How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest
and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,
and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them,
“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Today’s Focus
Jesus reveals that the Sabbath is not a cage built by God, but a gift given for human flourishing. By invoking David and declaring Himself “Lord of the Sabbath,” He shows that mercy and life stand at the heart of God’s Law, not rigid rule-keeping. In Christ, obedience is no longer about fear of breaking rules, but about entering into the freedom and rest God intended from the beginning.
In the Margins
This Gospel is centered around the Sabbath and what it meant to first century Jews according to the Law. It is clear that according to the Law Jews were not supposed to be doing much on Sabbath. It is deeply rooted in Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy, serving many functions. First, it imitates God’s rest after creation. In Exodus 31:12-17 it is a covenantal sign between God and Israel. In Deuteronomy, Sabbath rest recalls freedom from slavery. By the first century, Sabbath observance was central to the expression of covenant fidelity. Violation of this was not just breaking a rule, but signaled infidelity to the covenant of God.
The disciples were picking grain from the fields. The action was not allowed because of Sabbath restrictions, not legal standing that made the action wrong on any other day. The Torah allows those who are hungry to pluck grain from a neighbors field. The Pharisees were upset with the action, not where the grain was coming from.
Jesus responds not by dismissing Scripture, but by citing David’s actions in First Book of Samuel 21:1–6. David, fleeing and hungry, eats the bread of the Presence, which according to the Law (Leviticus 24:5–9) is reserved for priests. In this instance, the priest does not condemn David for the action. It shows that human need can take precedence over the restriction. Jesus is showing that even in scripture, which the Pharisees are using to justify their disagreement, there is a hierarchy within the Law. Preserving life and fulfilling God’s purpose outweighs the restriction.
The controversy that really arises is who has the authority to interpret the rules. Jesus claims divine authority with “the Son of Man” comment. In Jewish theology, only God is Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus claiming this shows that He was not merely interpreting Law, he was its fulfillment. He is not saying that the Sabbath should be abolished, but restored to its purpose of glorifying God. It allows for things to happen that are focused on mercy, life, and communion with God.
It brings up an interesting point on how we live our lives today. It is easy to get wrapped up in everything we have going on, but do you ever make it to Monday and think about how much you need a weekend to recover from the weekend? Taking a day to specifically focus on loving God and helping each other can take us beyond drawing us closer to Christ. The Bible is full of things that better our lives overall!
Reflection Question
Do I take a day to focus on worship and glorifying God?
A Small Invitation
This week, choose one concrete way to let the Sabbath become a gift rather than an obligation. Set something aside, slow down, and make room for God. If this reflection helped you, consider sharing it with someone who may be carrying more than they were meant to.