Mark 2:23–28 demonstrates how, the more Jesus shows His authority, the more the Pharisees resent Him and take notice of His unorthodox ways. This is the first time in Mark’s gospel that the Pharisees directly confront Jesus and they confront Him over their belief that the disciples are breaking the Sabbath command. The Law’s Sabbath-day restrictions were preparing food (Exodus 16:23–26), working (Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12–17), kindling a fire (Exodus 35:3), farming (Leviticus 25:1–7), and carrying a burden (Jeremiah 17:19–22). However priests (Numbers 28:9–10; Matthew 12:5) and guards (2 Kings 11:4–9; Nehemiah 13:15–22) were allowed to work. Rather than arguing with the Pharisees about whether the disciples broke the letter of the Mosaic Law, Jesus pointed to the spirit of the Law, that the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath, and that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. This story can teach us a lot about how to deal with conflict as well as give us a better understanding of the principles behind God’s commands. This story is also recorded in the gospels of Matthew (12:1-14) and Luke (6:1-5).
This week’s lesson will focus on Mark’s account of Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees regarding the Sabbath and what we can learn from it.