Gospel of Mark Part 15: Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath [Small Group Discussion]
- Rev. Bruce A. Shields
- Apr 12
- 3 min read
Title: The Lord of the Sabbath
Scripture Focus: Mark 2:23–28 – “And it happened 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. And the Pharisees were saying to Him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?’ And He said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; how he entered the house of God around the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the loaves of presentation, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?’ And Jesus was saying to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for the sake of man, and not man for the sake of the Sabbath. Consequently, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’”
OPENING QUESTION
Have you ever seen Christians judged for not following a tradition that wasn’t actually commanded in Scripture? How did it make you feel?
BACKGROUND
This encounter comes right after Jesus’ teaching on the new wine and new wineskins. Just as the New Covenant could not be contained in the Old Covenant system, so also Jesus challenged the way the Sabbath was being used to control people rather than bless them. The Pharisees confronted Jesus about His disciples picking grain on the Sabbath—a practice against their traditions, though not against God’s Law. Jesus’ response showed His authority over the Sabbath and exposed the Pharisees’ misuse of God’s commands.
KEY POINTS
1. The Sabbath Was Made for Man
The Sabbath was first commanded to Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 16:23–30) and was unknown before then (Nehemiah 9:14).
It was a covenant sign between God and Israel (Exodus 31:13–17), not given to the patriarchs (Deuteronomy 5:2–3).
Its purpose was rest and refreshment, patterned after God’s rest at creation (Exodus 20:11).
In the New Covenant, true rest is found not in a day, but in Christ Himself (Matthew 11:28–30).
2. The Son of Man Is Lord of the Sabbath
Jesus gave the Sabbath in the first place (John 1:1–3; John 10:30).
He used David’s example in 1 Samuel 21:1–6 to show that mercy outweighs ritual law when they conflict.
The higher law of mercy and compassion takes precedence over ceremonial requirements (Matthew 12:5–8).
3. Jesus Has Authority to Rescind the Sabbath Requirement
The Sabbath was part of the Law of Moses, which ended with Christ’s death on the cross (Ephesians 2:14–16; Colossians 2:14).
In the New Covenant, believers are not to be judged over Sabbath observance (Colossians 2:16; Romans 14:5).
Early Christians met on the first day of the week in celebration of Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1–2).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Why did Jesus say the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath?
How does finding rest in Christ differ from observing a weekly Sabbath?
Why do you think religious traditions often become more important to people than God’s commands?
How can we discern whether a practice in the church is a biblical command or a human tradition?
In what ways can we ensure our worship is focused on Christ, not on man-made rules?
APPLICATION
Focus on Christ, Not Tradition: Evaluate whether your religious practices are based on God’s Word or human additions.
Rest in the Lord of the Sabbath: True spiritual rest comes through a relationship with Jesus, not the observance of a specific day.
Avoid Binding Others with Man-Made Rules: Do not require what God has not commanded.
Be Ready to Stand on Scripture: Like Jesus, use the Word of God to correct false accusations.
MEMORY VERSE
Mark 2:27 – “The Sabbath was made for the sake of man, and not man for the sake of the Sabbath.”
PRAYER FOCUS
Thank God for the rest we have in Christ. Ask for discernment to separate His commands from human traditions, and for boldness to follow His Word even when it means challenging popular religious opinions.
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