Sabbath Controversy
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Sabbath Controversy

Mark 2:23–3:6  (ID: 2685)

The Pharisees viewed keeping God’s law as the only way to win acceptance with Him. Accusing Jesus of being unlawful on the Sabbath, they plotted to kill Him because they misunderstood that the Sabbath was given to man for his benefit and blessing. Alistair Begg reminds us that while legalism teaches, “I obey; therefore, I am accepted,” Christianity says, “I am accepted; therefore, I obey.”

Series Containing This Sermon

A Study in Mark, Volume 1

“Repent and Believe” Mark 1:1–3:6 Series ID: 14101

Encore 2013

Selected Scriptures Series ID: 25904


Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

23One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26how he entered the house of God, in the time of4 Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

A Man with a Withered Hand

1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2And they watched Jesus,1 to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.

Alistair Begg
Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, which is heard on the radio and online around the world.