The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 2:23-28, “And it came about that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain.

24 And the Pharisees were saying to Him, ‘See here, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?’

25 “And He said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he was in need and became hungry, he and his companions:

26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he gave it also to those who were with him?’

27 “And He was saying to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

28 ‘Consequently, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’”

(As we look at these verses, we must remember that the Book of Mark was written to the Romans. Matthew was written to the Jews; Luke, to the Greeks; and John to the Church.)

A group of us boys used to hike in the woods every Saturday. It was common for us to eat as we walked. Especially was that so when we were hungry. The disciples of Jesus were

walking through fields of grain, and being hungry, they plucked some grain and ate it.

The Pharisees were always looking for something they could criticize. They were religious to a fault. Pick, pick, pick. Everything was subject to their hypercritical attitude. I can remember talking with a young person about the Bible. Everything I said brought a conde-scending reply: “Chapter and verse! Chapter and verse!” He had no argument against what I believed; he only repeated those words over and over again.

The Pharisees challenged Jesus’ disciples for plucking grain and eating it on the Sabbath.

Actually, what they were doing was sanctioned by Scripture (see Deut. 23:25); it was the eating on the Sabbath the Pharisees were quibbling about. They failed (perhaps purposely) to note that Moses said nothing about the Sabbath in the Deuteronomic passage. The Pharisees were noted for always “adding to” what was said in Scripture.

Jesus reminded them of the time when David and he men were hungry and David got consecrated bread from the priest (1 Sam. 21:1ff) and gave some to his men. Then, He added, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” The Sabbath was established by the LORD to be a benefit to mankind. It was a time of rest, both physically and mentally. It was a time for relaxation and refreshment. And the consequence was (and is) that “the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

In the New Testament, the Sabbath (the seventh day) was replaced by Sunday (the first day). How do you behave on Sunday? If you have any doubts as to how the LORD blesses those who keep Sunday as a day of rest and worship, you need to remember that Chic-fil-A is the third largest fast-food restaurant in America –and they never open on Sunday! Moreover, the LORD is in control of everything! He is the LORD over all!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”