Lord of the Sabbath

Mark 2:23-28

23 And it came to pass, that He went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and His disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

24 And the Pharisees said unto Him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

25 And He said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?

26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

Today we finish chapter 2 with another conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees over Sabbath observance. Jesus defends His disciples for plucking grain on the Sabbath.

The Purpose of the Sabbath

Jesus declares, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (v. 27). God designed the Sabbath as a gift for human well-being and rest, not as a burdensome restriction. The Pharisees’ man-made rules had turned this blessing into a legalistic trap that ignored the law’s original intent to serve people.

Jesus points to David, who ate the consecrated showbread reserved for priests when he and his men were hungry (vv. 25-26). This shows that genuine human need takes precedence over ritual observance. Just as God permitted David’s actions for survival, Jesus’ disciples were justified in plucking grain to satisfy hunger while traveling.

The passage culminates in Jesus’ bold claim: “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (v. 28). As the Messiah and divine Lawgiver, Jesus has full authority to interpret and fulfill the Sabbath’s true meaning. He does not abolish it but restores its purpose under His lordship.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath!

Amen!