The Sabbath was Made for Man - Mark 2:27

Mark wrote concerning Jesus, “And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have you never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the showbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?”, and in chapter two and verse twenty-seven of his book, Mark shares how Jesus said, “the sabbath was made for man” where we read:

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

The verse reads, “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man ...” Mark began with the words, “and he said unto them” or “and Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed unto the Pharisees”, “the sabbath” which means “the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work” “was made for man” which means “came into existence and happened on behalf of and because of human beings both male and female”. Mark shared how Jesus declared how the “sabbath day” or “the day of rest” came into being on behalf of and for the benefit of mankind.

The verse goes on to say, “... and not man for the sabbath:” Mark continued with the words, “and not man” which means “and not human beings whether male or female” “for the sabbath” which means “for the reason or grounds of the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”. Mark shared the contrary idea of how “man” was not made for the “sabbath day”.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how God desired for people to have a “rest day” like He did on the “seventh day” of Creation. The scriptures say, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Genesis 2:2-3) God “ceased” from His work, and He made provision for people to cease from theirs. Jesus was sent to become the “rest” and “peace” for mankind as He “delivers” them from their “sins”, and those who are wise will yield their lives to the “only One” who is their true “Sabbath rest”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus said, “the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".