Made for Man
“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 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.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.””
— Mark 2:23-28 (NIV)
On the Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples are walking through the grainfields. As they go, the disciples pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees ask Jesus why they are doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath. Jesus reminds them of what David did when he was hungry and in need. He went into the house of God, ate the bread only priests were allowed to eat, and shared it with his men. Then Jesus says the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. He adds that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. That is how Jesus refers to himself, so he has the right to say what the day is for. This means the Sabbath, though God commanded it, is meant to serve people, including someone who is hungry and in need.
House rules usually start as a way to look after people. Over time, it's easy to defend a rule for its own sake. Sometimes a hungry child is told to wait, because nobody eats before dinner. Or someone back from a night shift can't sit down until the chores are done. Then you can see the broken rule and miss the hungry or worn-out person. Jesus said even the Sabbath, God's day of rest, was made for people.
Bend One Rule for Someone
- 1Find one house rule that keeps someone at home from eating or resting today, like no snacks before dinner or chores before sitting down. Tell that person that today they can, just this once, with no lecture and no strings attached.
- 2If you live alone or nobody at home needs it today, do the same at work. When a coworker hasn't had time to eat before a meeting, tell them to go ahead and eat during it.
Lord Jesus, You said the Sabbath was made for man. I admit that I sometimes care more about my rules than about the people they were meant to help. I notice a broken rule faster than I notice that someone is hungry or tired. Help me see today who around me needs something. Help me let them eat or rest without lecturing them. Amen.
Today I will bend one rule so someone can eat or rest.
Why does Jesus bring up David?
David was hungry and in need, and he ate the bread only priests were allowed to eat and gave some to his men. Jesus recalls it to show that the rule was not meant to stand against hungry people.
Is Jesus doing away with the Sabbath?
No. He says the Sabbath was made for man and calls himself, the Son of Man, its Lord. He explains what the day is for without cancelling it.
Does this mean house rules are bad?
No. Rules at home are useful. The point is that a rule meant to serve people should not keep someone hungry or worn out waiting. The challenge asks you to bend one rule in one such moment.