NOT A LEGALISTIC MATTER
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?” Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!””
Mark 2:23-28 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Jesus is walking through grain fields, presumably on a walking path, when the disciples began to break off some heads of grain to eat. They are hungry. The Pharisees get upset because they consider the actions of the disciples as work and their law said man should not work on the sabbath. Jesus responds by giving an Old Testament example of David eating the bread that was to be eaten only by the priests. Then Jesus declares, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” The law of Sabbath was to provide a day of rest and renewal for the spirit, soul, and body of mankind. They were to use this day to connect with God and renew themselves from their week of work. It was not to be a legalistic thing. But the Pharisees made it a legalistic matter. They wanted to define work and prosecute those who broke their law. We must be careful not to allow our laws to become stumbling blocks for people. There are always Pharisees who want everyone to obey their interpretation of God’s law. It is important to remember love and grace is more important than law.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me to maintain a relationship with You based on love and grace. Help me to follow You out of love not out of fear.
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