You asked

how does this compare with old testament sabbath commands in exodus or deuteronomy?

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 part of a series of confrontations between Jesus and the religious authorities in the Gospel of Mark. Here, Jesus' disciples have been picking grain on the Sabbath, an act the Pharisees considered a violation of the Sabbath law. Jesus defends their actions by invoking an Old Testament example and then making this bold statement about the Sabbath's purpose and his own authority.

What does it mean for a principle or practice to serve humanity, rather than humanity serving it?

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Read alongside it

Exodus 20:8-11
This is the foundational command for the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments, emphasizing creation and rest.
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
This reiteration of the Sabbath command adds the motivation of liberation from slavery in Egypt.
Matthew 12:1-8
This parallel account in Matthew includes Jesus' reference to David eating the consecrated bread, further challenging strict interpretations of law.

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