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how does the new testament, particularly jesus' teachings, extend or reframe the Sabbath command?

PlainDeeperStudy

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Mark 2:27-28

“He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."”

This passage is from the Gospel of Mark, which tells the story of Jesus. Here, Jesus and his disciples are walking through grainfields on the Sabbath, and the disciples pick heads of grain to eat. The Pharisees accuse them of breaking the Sabbath law, leading to this teaching from Jesus.

How might remembering the purpose of the Sabbath change how you approach rest and work today?

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Read alongside it

  • Matthew 12:1-8

    Another account of Jesus' teaching on the Sabbath, including healing on the Sabbath.

  • Luke 6:1-5

    A parallel account of Jesus' disciples picking grain on the Sabbath.

  • Exodus 20:8-11

    The original command to keep the Sabbath holy, given to Israel.

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