Unlawful on the Sabbath Day - Mark 2:24

Mark wrote how Jesus, “went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn”, and in chapter two and verse twenty-four of his book, Mark shares how the Pharisees asked Jesus, “why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?” where we read:

And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

The verse reads, “And the Pharisees said unto him, ...” Mark began with the words, “and the Pharisees” or “and the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life” “said unto him” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Jesus”. Mark shared how the “religious leaders” known as the “Pharisees” once again approached Jesus and asked Him the following question.

The verse continues, “... Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?” Mark added the word, “behold” which means “lo, look and consider”, “why do they” which means “for what reason and cause perform, produce, prepare and bear Jesus' disciples” “on the sabbath day” or “on the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work” “that which is not lawful” which means “the thing which is unlawful or against the law”. Mark shared how the “Pharisees” questioned Jesus as to why His disciples were performing tasks on the “Sabbath day” that according to them was a violation of the “law”.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how these “religious leaders” were “watching Jesus and His disciples” again. This time they were observing His disciples plucking ears of “wheat” as they walked through grain fields, and because they were “working” on the “sabbath day”, it was considered to be a violation to the “sabbath day” law of “rest”. They questioned Jesus concerning His disciples' activity and have again “strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel”. God made the world so people could enjoy it's fruit, and because He desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, Jesus will answer the question of these “religious leaders”. Stay tuned.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus asked the Pharisees, “Have you never read what David did?”, 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".