Deuteronomy makes clear that sabbath-keeping is meant for the welfare of all. God delivered the Israelites out of slavery, so they should observe this freedom with a day of rest. No one should work seven days a week; even slaves and foreigners should be able to rest. Yet human beings can turn even the most liberating religious practice into a life-destroying rule. Jesus does not reject sabbath-keeping, but defends its original life-enhancing meaning. Our worship and our religious way of life are to lead to restoration: the hungry being fed and the sick being healed.
Mark 2:23—3:6
23One sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as the disciples made their way they began to pluck heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to Jesus, “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 and his companions were hungry and in need of food? 26He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” 27Then Jesus said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; 28so the Son-of-Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
3:1Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2They watched Jesus to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And Jesus said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” 4Then Jesus said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5He looked around at them with anger; he was 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 conspired with the Herodians against Jesus, how to destroy him.
3:1Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2They watched Jesus to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And Jesus said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” 4Then Jesus said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5He looked around at them with anger; he was 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 conspired with the Herodians against Jesus, how to destroy him.
