Jesus and the Sabbath

[timwatt]

I need help in better understanding the meaning of this passage about Jesus and 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.”

Mark 2:23-28**

As Leviticus states, doing any form of work is forbidden on the Sabbath Day:

**3 “‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.

Leviticus 3:3**

Christ himself, being the Word Incarnate, is the author of the Mosaic Law. Why, then, would he allow his disciples to break the Sabbath? Jesus’ excuse was that since King David did the unlawful act of eating the Bread of the Presence, his disciples are also allowed to do the unlawful act of picking grains on the Sabbath. This is not any different from a little girl getting in trouble for eating a cookie after seeing her older brother do the same thing (when the parents have expressly told them they were not allowed to eat the cookies) and saying: “But I saw Johnny eat a cookie, so I didn’t think it was wrong for me to eat one too!” Just because King David did something unlawful does not give you permission to do something unlawful and use the excuse “But King David broke the rules too!” I don’t think Jesus gave a good defensive argument.

 

[MarcoPolo]

This is not any different from a little girl getting in trouble for eating a cookie after seeing her older brother do the same thing (when the parents have expressly told them they were not allowed to eat the cookies) and saying: “But I saw Johnny eat a cookie, so I didn’t think it was wrong for me to eat one too!” Just because King David did something unlawful does not give you permission to do something unlawful and use the excuse “But King David broke the rules too!” I don’t think Jesus gave a good defensive argument.

I view it differently with regards to the two covenants. The OT is the precursor to the NT, and thus like the childhood of the people of God vs. the more developed age in the new covenant. In a child’s infancy, he is given a curfew at say 7 p.m. But that regulation is properly dispensed in maturity. But in a sense, the discipline it invoked prepared the child for the necessary disciplines required in adulthood.

In the same way, the OT foreshadows and gives us understanding of the things that fulfill it in the NT. So just as Jesus said man was not made for the Sabbath, neither is the child made for the curfew - but rather the curfew is there to serve the person into maturity.

 

[brb3]

I need help in better understanding the meaning of this passage about Jesus and 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.”

Mark 2:23-28**

As Leviticus states, doing any form of work is forbidden on the Sabbath Day:

**3 “‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.

Leviticus 3:3**

Christ himself, being the Word Incarnate, is the author of the Mosaic Law. Why, then, would he allow his disciples to break the Sabbath? Jesus’ excuse was that since King David did the unlawful act of eating the Bread of the Presence, his disciples are also allowed to do the unlawful act of picking grains on the Sabbath. This is not any different from a little girl getting in trouble for eating a cookie after seeing her older brother do the same thing (when the parents have expressly told them they were not allowed to eat the cookies) and saying: “But I saw Johnny eat a cookie, so I didn’t think it was wrong for me to eat one too!” Just because King David did something unlawful does not give you permission to do something unlawful and use the excuse “But King David broke the rules too!” I don’t think Jesus gave a good defensive argument.

Again, the Sabbath was made for good of Man …so said Christ !! Christ was in the Bread of Presence David & men received … which they sorely needed, —very hungry, on the run, being chased !!

And, if Christ’s 12 were hungry and needing energy …they too needed to be fed. All on this Earth is gift of God to us, was Christ not allowed to take his due from those farmers to feed his small flock of 12 ? Again, the Sabbath was made for man…not for God, who needs no rest. When we rest on the Sabbath, per Gods command …his Eucharist to us Restores us, not he.

 

[rcwitness]

Again, the Sabbath was made for good of Man …so said Christ !! Christ was in the Bread of Presence David & men received … which they sorely needed, —very hungry, on the run, being chased !!

And, if Christ’s 12 were hungry and needing energy …they too needed to be fed. All on this Earth is gift of God to us, was Christ not allowed to take his due from those farmers to feed his small flock of 12 ? Again, the Sabbath was made for man…not for God, who needs no rest. When we rest on the Sabbath, per Gods command …his Eucharist to us Restores us, not he.

I always wondered if the Bread of Presence was similar to the Eucharist. Is it really considered His body and blood by the Church?

Michael

 

[rcwitness]

I always wondered if the Bread of Presence was similar to the Eucharist. Is it really considered His body and blood by the Church?

Michael

Sorry Tim,
I didnt mean to ask a seperate question in your thread. That was rude.
Peace,
Michael

 

[Nita]

I always wondered if the Bread of Presence was similar to the Eucharist. Is it really considered His body and blood by the Church?

Michael

No.
But, it is one of the “types” of the future Eucharist.

 

[Nita]

Christ himself, being the Word Incarnate, is the author of the Mosaic Law. Why, then, would he allow his disciples to break the Sabbath? Jesus’ excuse was that since King David did the unlawful act of eating the Bread of the Presence, his disciples are also allowed to do the unlawful act of picking grains on the Sabbath. This is not any different from a little girl getting in trouble for eating a cookie after seeing her older brother do the same thing (when the parents have expressly told them they were not allowed to eat the cookies) and saying: “But I saw Johnny eat a cookie, so I didn’t think it was wrong for me to eat one too!” Just because King David did something unlawful does not give you permission to do something unlawful and use the excuse “But King David broke the rules too!” I don’t think Jesus gave a good defensive argument.

Jesus is saying that circumstances can play a role in how rigidly regulations are to be observed. In the case of King David, the circumstances mitigated strict observance of the law. The Pharisees recognized and accepted the validity of this exception in the case of King David. Jesus is saying that the same rule of necessity applies to the apostles in their current circumstance.

There are any number of examples that can be given to show when love and mercy overide strict observance of a regulation. Here are just a few examples:
Not going to Mass on Sunday if feeling sick - or need to stay and care for someone who is ill.
Eating meat on Friday when that is all that is served when a guest in someone’s home.
Theft of food to feed one’s family when they are starving.
Etc.

 

[fisherman_carl]

“Although Deut 23:25 permits the Israelites to pluck and eat standing grain, the Pharisees indict the disciples under the law of Ex 34:21, which forbids harvesting on the Sabbath (Ex 20:8-11; CCC 2168-73). Resolved to discredit him, the Pharisees equate plucking grain with harvesting it.”

“According to Jesus, God designed the Sabbath to benefit his people, not to burden them (CCC 2172-73).”

• Ignatius Catholic Study Bible

So the Pharisees, who did not recoginise who Jesus is, tried to trap him with some law that didn’t really apply to what they were doing anyway. Jesus says the Sabbath was designed for man, not man for the Sabbath. It was like you were in a field of peas and you were picking the pea pods to have something to eat and someone comes out and accuses you of breaking the rule of harvesting on the Sabbath. You are not harvesting which would be part of a regular work done during the week. You are simply having something to eat. But, the Pharisees, who were not merciful but believed they could be saved by following the rules instead of a genuine heart conversion to Christ, wanted to try to trap Jesus with trumped up charges. Jesus tells them you have no authority over me. I am the Lord of the Sabbath.