Burden or benefit?

Jesus was walking through some wheatfields on a Sabbath. As his disciples walked along with him, they began to pick the heads of wheat. So the Pharisees said to Jesus, ‘Look, it is against our Law for your disciples to do that on the Sabbath!’
Jesus answered, ‘Have you never read what David did that time when he needed something to eat? He and his men were hungry, so he went into the house of God and ate the bread offered to God. This happened when Abiathar was the High Priest. According to our Law only the priests may eat this bread – but David ate it and even gave it to his men.’ (verses 23-26)

Read Mark 2:23 – 3:6

Jesus’ disciples have committed the dreadful sin of picking a few heads of wheat on the Sabbath. Nitpicking by the Pharisees has obscured the real purpose of the Sabbath: a day of worship and rest, to refresh people for the week ahead.

God’s law was always meant to be for his people’s good. In worship it helped make it possible for people to enter parts of the temple. In relationships between people, the law was a recipe for harmonious living. In Exodus the law follows God’s gracious acts; it isn’t a precondition for them.

Under the legalism of the Pharisees, however, it had become a heavy burden, prompting Jesus to issue the invitation, ‘Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28). So Jesus once again had to point out that the Sabbath laws, like all laws, were for people’s benefit and  were a response to God’s grace. They never were meant to be a burden. And they still aren’t.

Thank you, Jesus, for taking away the burden of legalism. May I always serve you joyfully. Amen.

by Bob Turnbull, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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