MARK 2:23-28 MEDITATION - Part 2 THE SABBATH - THE PHARISEES AND THE LAW
The accusation
The disciples of Jesus were accused of not observing the sabbath and in the light of what we have seen we can easily see the gravity of such an accusation. However, looking at the action that provoked it we can see that the accusation was groundless. The accusation was not one of stealing or trespassing. The law gave them the right to gather grain for their own needs
If you go into your neighbour's standing corn, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbour's standing corn. (Deuteronomy 23:25)
The law provides and protects both the needy and the owner of the field. The law is there for man, not an unnatural imposition on man.
It might seem strange to us to see Jesus and his disciples in the midst of fields of grain. We are clearly close to harvest time as the grain is already ripe and ready to eat. Pathways often crossed fields with grain growing on either side. This explains Deuteronomy 23:25. It was perfectly lawful to do what the disciples did. What they did is not an issue but when they did it is. They did it on the sabbath and they were accused of transgressing the sabbath because the action was associated with harvesting. It is interesting to note that Jesus himself did not pluck the grain, only his disciples and they were within the law. They were using their hands and not a sickle, they are by no means ‘harvesting’ the corn.
In addition to the law there were, and still are, 39 different man-made rules regarding what can and cannot be done on the sabbath. Plucking the corn was associated with ‘harvesting’ and therefore unlawful, hence the question requiring an explanation. 1 The accusation was not based on the law but on an interpretation of the law that is almost put on a par with the law.
The Pharisees appeal to scripture to criticise the conduct of Jesus’ disciples, hence also undermining the authority of Jesus himself as he is ultimately responsible for his disciples. They make it clear that this is a transgression of the sabbath. They therefore established themselves as the authority over sabbath-day observances, taking the rightful position of the only true Lord of the Sabbath – as Jesus was about to make clear.
Not always by observing the law are we doing the will of God. We can sometimes live the letter of the law and yet betray its spirit, as we can see from these repeated hostile accusations of the Pharisees.
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Mark 2:23-28 Text and Questions
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