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Can you imagine explaining how something works or how to use something to the inventor himself? It’s absurd, isn’t it? The creator knows what it is, how it works, and for what uses it’s intended. Trying to tell them about the creation is completely ridiculous. What would we know that the creator doesn’t already?
This is exactly what the Pharisees constantly did with Jesus.
“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. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 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? 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? And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” (Mark 2:23-28)
The law was a part of these men. It was weaved into their lives since they were born. Not only God’s laws, but also the ones man had decided to add along the way. As a Pharisee, the law was everything. But while they followed the rules set in place, they missed the very One who created them.
In this passage, the disciples were traveling with Jesus on the Sabbath. They were hungry and they took of the grains along the roadside. This was permitted by the law. In fact, that’s why grain was left along the outside of the field, to allow travelers and the poor to glean as needed. However, the law the Pharisees were concerned about was that they picked it on the Sabbath.
Now, let’s stop for a second and think about what the Sabbath is. God created the Sabbath as a day of rest for man. It allowed him to put away his hard labor and focus on God and rest in Him.
But here were these men trying to tell the very creator of the Sabbath and the Law how it all worked! Can you imagine?!
Completely ridiculous!
Jesus reminded them of what King David did with the shewbread and how he was in the right for doing so. And then, Jesus reminds them of what the sabbath should be and that He was Lord over the sabbath.
In this passage, we’ve seen a good reminder for us as well. How are we using the day God gave us? We work all week and there is one day that we use to refocus on the Lord and rest in Him. We put away our work and our chores and we glorify Him. Through worship by song, reading and studying scripture, gathering together with other believers, and serving in the local church we are able to enjoy the sabbath as God intended.
How will you use the sabbath to glorify God above all things, even yourself?
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