The Sabbath is Made for Man, Not Man Made for the Sabbath!
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Reflection: Note the similarity of the Pharisees' inquisition today with yesterday. Yesterday they accused the disciples of not fasting enough while Jesus was with them. And today they rebuke Jesus for allowing his disciples to eat on the Sabbath day. Note they are only plucking ears of corn, not a full blown feast. They are getting enough sustenance to continue their travel and ministry. But the real point of the story is Jesus' explanation. He says, "The Sabbath is made for man, not man made for the Sabbath."
It is important to know that any commandment God has given is out of love for us and our own benefit, this one as well. The Sabbath was a day of rest for both one's body and soul. A day to rest the body from a week of work, and a time to feed the soul with the things of God. Note it is not a day to put unnecessary strain on the body, and in this case to feed it when it is hungry. The Pharisees had generally made all the laws burdensome to the people by tying heavy loads on their backs and then not lifting a finger to help lift them. Jesus says, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest, rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
So how do we make the Sabbath a burden today or not realize it is made for man not the opposite? Commonly going to church is thought of as the penultimate way to honor the Sabbath. And of course worshipping God on a regular and consistent basis is an important discipline, which not only feeds our soul and but is also a time of rest and reflection on our spiritual life in community with others. But Church is not meant to be a burden. And if going to church is consistently burdensome to you something is amiss.
Secondly, we live in a world where being a work-aholic is accepted if not applauded. Working 50-60 hours a week for many is the norm, including those in full time ministry. And you may ask what is the problem with that? Aren't we supposed to work, didn't God command that? Yes work is good, but when it becomes idolatry it is bad. When it is the most important thing in our lives, it affects our relationship with God, and our family and friends. Do we really think God would want is to work so much that in the meantime our family gets only the leftovers of a tired, worn out person? I don't think so!
It is really wise for us to reflect on Jesus' words today, which are every bit as important to us today as to his disciples back then. Do you have a regular time for resting your body and soul in your weekly rhythm of life? Note it doesn't have to be necessarily on Sunday. The day is not as important as the habit. Secondly, is there a healthy balance between work and the rest of your life? At the end of your life will you look back and say I gave all of myself to work and what do I have to show for it? God's wants us to have the right priorities in our lives so that our lives might have maximum impact in the kingdom and for those who we love, especially our families. Amen.
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Reflection: Note the similarity of the Pharisees' inquisition today with yesterday. Yesterday they accused the disciples of not fasting enough while Jesus was with them. And today they rebuke Jesus for allowing his disciples to eat on the Sabbath day. Note they are only plucking ears of corn, not a full blown feast. They are getting enough sustenance to continue their travel and ministry. But the real point of the story is Jesus' explanation. He says, "The Sabbath is made for man, not man made for the Sabbath."
It is important to know that any commandment God has given is out of love for us and our own benefit, this one as well. The Sabbath was a day of rest for both one's body and soul. A day to rest the body from a week of work, and a time to feed the soul with the things of God. Note it is not a day to put unnecessary strain on the body, and in this case to feed it when it is hungry. The Pharisees had generally made all the laws burdensome to the people by tying heavy loads on their backs and then not lifting a finger to help lift them. Jesus says, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest, rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
So how do we make the Sabbath a burden today or not realize it is made for man not the opposite? Commonly going to church is thought of as the penultimate way to honor the Sabbath. And of course worshipping God on a regular and consistent basis is an important discipline, which not only feeds our soul and but is also a time of rest and reflection on our spiritual life in community with others. But Church is not meant to be a burden. And if going to church is consistently burdensome to you something is amiss.
Secondly, we live in a world where being a work-aholic is accepted if not applauded. Working 50-60 hours a week for many is the norm, including those in full time ministry. And you may ask what is the problem with that? Aren't we supposed to work, didn't God command that? Yes work is good, but when it becomes idolatry it is bad. When it is the most important thing in our lives, it affects our relationship with God, and our family and friends. Do we really think God would want is to work so much that in the meantime our family gets only the leftovers of a tired, worn out person? I don't think so!
It is really wise for us to reflect on Jesus' words today, which are every bit as important to us today as to his disciples back then. Do you have a regular time for resting your body and soul in your weekly rhythm of life? Note it doesn't have to be necessarily on Sunday. The day is not as important as the habit. Secondly, is there a healthy balance between work and the rest of your life? At the end of your life will you look back and say I gave all of myself to work and what do I have to show for it? God's wants us to have the right priorities in our lives so that our lives might have maximum impact in the kingdom and for those who we love, especially our families. Amen.
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