STUDY IT FOR YOURSELF! Have the attitude of the Bereans… … take what you are taught and search the Scriptures each day to see if what was taught is what the Word of God says [Acts 17:11]! Have the attitude of the Bereans…

Jesus – His Life The Gathering Storm Part 5:

FIVE CONFLICTS between Jesus and the Pharisees Mark 2:1 – 3:6

HEALING of the PARALYTIC CALLING of LEVI Question of FASTING EATING on the SABBATH HEALING at the SYNAGOGUE – CONFLICT over FORGIVENESS. – CONFLICT over SINNERS. – CONFLICT over TRADITION. – CONFLICT over NEEDS. – CONFLICT over PRIORITIES.

The FOURTH CONFLICT – EATING on the SABBATH – Mark 2:23-28

Mark 2:23-28 [23] And it came about 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). [24] And THE PHARISEES were saying to Him, “See here, WHY are they doing what is NOT LAWFUL on the SABBATH?”

[25] And He said to them, “Have you never read WHAT DAVID DID when he was in NEED and became hungry, he and his companions: [26] how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, AND ATE the CONSECRATED BREAD, which is NOT LAWFUL for (anyone) to eat EXCEPT THE PRIESTS, and he gave it also to those who were with him?"

REAPING on the SABBATH was SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN [Exodus 34:21]. Jesus’ disciples WERE DOING what WAS NOT “LAWFUL” (literally “not allowed,” “not proper”) – they were REAPING! The Pharisees ACCUSED Jesus of ALLOWING the LAW to be BROKEN!

Mark 2:23-28 – Jesus’ Answers [25] And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did WHEN HE WAS IN NEED and became hungry, he and his companions” [1 Samuel 21:1-6] An IMPLIED Question: “How could David BREAK the LAW [Leviticus 24:9] and yet NOT BE CONDEMNED?”

The FIFTH CONFLICT – HEALING on the SABBATH – Mark 3:1-6

Mark 3:1-6 [1] And He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there with a withered hand. [2] And they were watching Him (to see) if He WOULD HEAL him ON THE SABBATH, in order that they MIGHT ACCUSE Him. [3] And He said to the man with the withered hand, “Rise and come forward!”

[4] And He said to them, “IS IT LAWFUL on the SABBATH to do GOOD or to do HARM, to SAVE a life or to KILL?” But they kept silent. [5] And after looking around at them with ANGER, GRIEVED at their HARDNESS of HEART,…

[5] … He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand [5] … He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. [6] And the Pharisees went out and immediately (began) taking counsel with the Herodians against Him, as to HOW THEY MIGHT DESTROY HIM.

The SABBATH – a Summary Explanation

Exodus 20:8-11 [8] “REMEMBER the SABBATH day, to keep it HOLY. [9] Six days you shall labor and do all your work, [10] “but the seventh day is A SABBATH OF THE LORD YOUR GOD;…”

[10] “… (in it) you SHALL NOT DO ANY WORK, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.”

AND RESTED on the seventh day; [11] “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, AND RESTED on the seventh day; THEREFORE the LORD BLESSED the SABBATH and MADE IT HOLY.

SABBATH – Strong’s Hebrew word 7676 Meaning, “TO SEVER”; “PUT AN END TO”; “TO DESIST”; “TO COME TO AN END.” The PRIMARY THOUGHT is “REST”

Exodus 31:12-18 FOR IT IS HOLY to you. [14] ‘THEREFORE you ARE TO OBSERVE the SABBATH, FOR IT IS HOLY to you. EVERYONE WHO PROFANES IT SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.’

Exodus 31:12-18 [15] ‘FOR SIX DAYS work MAY BE DONE, BUT on the SEVENTH DAY there is a SABBATH of COMPLETE REST, HOLY to the LORD; WHOEVER DOES ANY WORK on the SABBATH DAY SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH.’

PUNISHABLE by DEATH BREAKING the SABBATH was an OFFENSE examples see: Numbers 15:32-36; Ezekiel 20:12-24; Nehemiah 13:18; Jeremiah 17:19-27 PUNISHABLE by DEATH [Exodus 31:14; 35:2]!

WHY? Exodus 31:12-18 Introduces Two more ELEMENTS – [13] “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall SURELY OBSERVE My SABBATHS;…” WHY?

Exodus 31:12-18 FIRST ELEMENT – A SIGN of WHAT? [13] “… FOR (this) [IT] IS A SIGN BETWEEN Me and you throughout your generations,…” A SIGN of WHAT? “THAT you MAY KNOW that I AM the LORD Who SANCTIFIES you.”

Exodus 31:12-18 SECOND ELEMENT – [16] “So the sons of Israel SHALL OBSERVE the SABBATH, to CELEBRATE the SABBATH throughout their generations as a PERPETUAL COVENANT.” A SIGN of THE COVENANT!

Exodus 31:12-18 FOR in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, [17] “IT IS a SIGN BETWEEN Me and the sons of Israel forever; FOR in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, BUT on the seventh day HE CEASED [RESTED] (from labor, [of creation]) and WAS REFRESHED.”

The LEGALISTIC Traditions of the SABBATH

Pharisaic Formalism (Traditions) Vinegar, if swallowed, could be used to relieve a sore throat No woman was to look in a mirror on the sabbath lest seeing a gray hair – but it could not be gargled.

Pharisaic Formalism (Traditions) Vinegar, if swallowed, could be used to relieve a sore throat No woman was to look in a mirror on the sabbath lest seeing a gray hair – but it could not be gargled. – she might be tempted to pluck it.

Pharisaic Formalism (Traditions) “If anyone sprained his hand or foot In a case where death threatened, a physician could be summoned – he may not pour cold water on it.” – but, “A fracture may not be attended to.”

CIRCUMCISION on the Sabbath [John 7:21-24]. HOWEVER, there were POSTIVE COMMANDS that SUPERSEDED the Sabbath: The priest SACRIFICING in the Temple on a Sabbath [Matthew 12:5]. CIRCUMCISION on the Sabbath [John 7:21-24].

The GATHERING STORM – Two Climaxes

Mark 3:1-6 – DRAMATIC CLIMAX! Jesus EXPRESSES ANGER, SORROW, and GRIEF for the first time! The Pharisees BEGIN PLOTTING HOW they might KILL Jesus!

Mark 2:21-22 – INSTRUCTIVE APPLICATION! GIVES the KEY to WHY this CONFLICT with the religious leaders IS NECESSARY.

4 Discipleship Lessons

Discipleship Lesson #1 Discipleship Lessons Human NEEDS are IMPORTANT! Legitimate needs should be met, YOU NEED to follow the SPIRIT of the law, even at the RISK of NOT KEEPING the TRADITIONS of the law. Discipleship Lessons

Discipleship Lesson #2.1 Discipleship Lessons NOT MAN FOR the SABBATH! Jesus laid down TWO IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES! First Principle: The SABBATH was made FOR MAN – NOT MAN FOR the SABBATH! Discipleship Lessons

Discipleship Lesson #2.2 Discipleship Lessons WHEN the SABBATH DAY CEASES to REFRESH people – THEN WORSHIP BECOMES SECONDARY to the OBSERVENCE of -- ---------------- the DAY! Discipleship Lessons

Discipleship Lesson #3.1 Discipleship Lessons EVEN OF the SABBATH! Jesus laid down TWO IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES! Second Principle: The SON OF MAN IS LORD – EVEN OF the SABBATH! Discipleship Lessons

Discipleship Lesson #3.2 Discipleship Lessons Jesus HAS the AUTHORITY to DEFINE WHAT PROPER SABBATH OBSERVENCE ENTAILS! SEEK the SPIRIT of the law rather than KEEPING the TRADITIONS of the law! Discipleship Lessons

Discipleship Lesson #4.1 Discipleship Lessons Matthew 9:9-13 – Call of Matthew Levi [13] “But GO and LEARN WHAT THIS MEANS, ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ (Hosea 6:6; also see Prov. 21:3) FOR I DID NOT COME TO CALL the RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS.” Discipleship Lessons

Discipleship Lesson #4.2 Discipleship Lessons Matthew 12:1-7 – Eating on Sabbath [7] “But IF YOU HAD KNOWN what this means, ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,’ you WOULD NOT HAVE CONDEMNED the INNOCENT. Discipleship Lessons

Here is your Invitation to EXCAPE the STORM of TRADITIONS and F FOLLOW the TEACHINGS of Jesus ALONE!