Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or do evil, to save life or to kill?

Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.  And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"  But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:  how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"  And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.  So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.  And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward."  Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or do evil, to save life or to kill?"  But they kept silent.  And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.  Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

- Mark 2:23-3:6

Yesterday, we read that Jesus went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them.  As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office.  And He said to him, "Follow Me."  So he arose and followed Him.  Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.  And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"  When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."  The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.  Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"  And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?  As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.  But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.  No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse.  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined.  But new wine must be put into new wineskins."

Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.  And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"  This isn't lawful because it was considered to be a form of work, a violation of the Sabbath-rest.  My study bible says that "'Pharisaism' is a very real danger for all.  Ruler for religious practice are not bad in themselves, but when adherence to those rules triumphs over mercy and human need, the practice leads people away from God, not toward Him."

But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:  how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"   My study bible explains that "Abiathar was appointed high priest during David's reign (1 Sam. 23:6-11).  His father, Ahimelech, provided David and his men, who were starving, with holy bread intended for priests only (1 Sam. 21:1-6)."

And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."  There is a similar saying in rabbinical literature:  "The Sabbath has been given unto you; you have not been given unto the Sabbath."  Jesus, however, says my study bible, "puts what He teaches into practice, interpreting the Law with authority.  Only God can say He is Lord of the Sabbath."

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.  So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.  And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward."  Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or do evil, to save life or to kill?"  But they kept silent.   A note tells us, "Jesus is motivated by compassion.  He does not deny Sabbath traditions, but teaches that it is more important to do good on the Sabbath than to maintain the strict observance of Sabbath rest.  The religious leaders are motivated by zeal for the rigid performance of rabbinic tradition; for them outward performance is more important than doing good.  The two perspectives are incompatible."

And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.  Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.  My study bible tells us, "In their anger and self-deception, the Pharisees believe that in order to serve God, they must collaborate with their enemies, the Herodians, to murder the One who is the true Servant of God."   The Herodians were members and supporters of the royal court of Herod Antipas, allied with and serving as part of the Roman government.

In this time of Lent and its association with fasting rules, we may well think of what it is to be healed.  One purpose of fasting is, of course, for our own healing, on many levels.  Fasting practices are designed to cut away externals, the things we think we need that we don't really need, in order to focus in on what is truly good for us, what truly feeds us.  It's to get in touch with who and what we really are, and where our heart lies, how our lives are going.  We focus in on Christ, and our relationship with God.  There is a commentary by St. John Chrysostom that, despite his setting in the 4th century, really brings home the purpose of the fast.  In a sermon, he preached that his well-heeled flock should put the servants to rest for awhile, and get out of the fuss and fire and grease spitting everywhere in the kitchen, put away the fancy utensils and all the elaborate preparations of this elegant food or that, and just basically give it a rest for awhile, to put it into our language.  Resting, in this context, is really to get in touch with God, and thereby we see what it is we really need.  This is why rest is for wholeness, and the point of a Sabbath-rest.  So, we can take all these rules as rules that are essentially for our health and well-being, on every level.  However, my study bible points out that when zealous preoccupation with the rules becomes a kind of idol, and the whole focus, then we are headed for trouble.  It really doesn't matter how good the rule is, in that case, as my study bible puts it:  "when adherence to those rules triumphs over mercy and human need, the practice leads people away from God, not toward Him."  If we remember that the purpose of every religious rule is really for our health and well-being, on so many levels -- from our basic root in spiritual reality to our psychology to our physical body -- then the goal is what becomes essential, and not the legalistic rendering of the rule itself.  Hence, Jesus' words:  "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."  As Son of Man, and fulfillment of the Law, He is Lord of the Sabbath.  His restoring a man to wholeness is the "whole" point.  So, once again, as we are in the middle of Lent, let us consider what prayer is, what our focus is now in this time, as we prepare for Easter.  Can you cut away the extraneous, and focus in on what He would want for your healing?  Let us keep in mind that so many of the things that we think we want aren't really for our healing.  We don't really need all the things we think we need because we're surrounded with expensive luxuries available in stores, or because our brother and sister have it, or because it would be socially impressive, or all the different reasons why we think we need what we need when we focus in on the outside.  What we need is what we find we need in that relationship of love to Creator.  Wholeness comes, essentially, from love, and even in our weakness we may show the perfect strength of Christ.  We may simply need to come to understand that we are loved as we are, a healing powerful as any other.  But take time to remember, the purpose is for healing.  We find it as we center in, cut away the distractions and the externals and all the things we chase after, drop the things that give us so much anxiety for a moment if we can, and come to Him.  He is the Lord of the Sabbath, the place of all restoration and healing, the One who gives us the right perspective we need.

The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath

 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.  And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"  But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:  how he went into the house of God in the days of Abaithar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"  And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.  So they watched Him closely whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.  And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward."  Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"  And they kept silent.  And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.  Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

- Mark 2:23-3:6

In yesterday's reading, we read about Jesus calling Matthew or Levi the tax collector to follow Him.  Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.  And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"  When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."  The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.  Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"  And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?  As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.  But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.  Now one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse.  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined.  But new wine must be put into new wineskins."

 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.  And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"  My study bible notes here:  "This is not lawful because it was considered work, a violation of the Sabbath rest.  'Pharisaism' is a very real danger for all.  Rules for religious practice are not bad in themselves, but when adherence to those rules triumphs over mercy and human need, the practice leads people away from God, not toward Him."

But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:  how he went into the house of God in the days of Abaithar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"  My study bible explains that Abiathar was appointed high priest during David's reign.  His father Ahimelech provided David and his men, who were starving, with holy bread intended for priests only.  See 1 Samuel 21:1-6.

And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."  My study bible points out that there is a similar saying found in rabbinical literature:  "The Sabbath has been given unto you; you have not been given unto the Sabbath."  However, it notes that Jesus puts what He teaches into practice, "interpreting the Law with authority.  Only God can say He is Lord of the Sabbath."  Christ, as incarnate human being, can therefore declare Himself Lord of the Sabbath.  But the emphasis here is on the mercy of God:  the Sabbath rest in the Lord is made for the needs of human beings.

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.  So they watched Him closely whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.  And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward."  Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"  And they kept silent.  Here, my study bible notes:  "Jesus is motivated by compassion.  He does not deny Sabbath traditions, but teaches that it is more important to do good on the Sabbath than to maintain the strict observation of Sabbath rest.  The religious leaders are motivated by zeal for the rigid performance of rabbinic tradition; for them outward performance is more important than doing good.  The two perspectives are incompatible."    And we see that by now in Mark's gospel, though we are only just into the third chapter, rifts between the leadership and Jesus are beginning to show.  They search for something with which to accuse Him.

And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.  Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.  A note reads:  "In their anger and self-deception, the Pharisees believe that in order to serve God they must collaborate with their enemies, the Herodians, to murder the One who is the true servant of God."  The Herodians, of course, are those who are with the king, Herod Antipas, who ruled over Galilee where Jesus has practiced His ministry.  Herod is also the one who has had John the Baptist imprisoned.

What we take from today's reading is Jesus' emphasis on life and what is good for life.  In John's gospel, we read Jesus telling us all that, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).  In that passage, He was pointing out the difference between a true shepherd, and one that does not really have the best interest of the sheep in mind.  So, taking all this into context, we see the emphasis on love, on compassion.  What makes for life, and life in abundance?  Worship, it seems to me, is a natural capacity of human beings.   A Sabbath rest is an opportunity to take our thoughts to God, to take rest in Christ, and thereby be renewed in spirit and soul, feeding all of our lives.  At least, that's how I see it, and that this is the purpose of that rest:  it is made for us because this is a deep human need.  To take rest this way is to be restored.  God doesn't need us to do so in order to remain God!  Jesus' emphasis on life and the restoration of life is synonymous with the good in the way He presents His action of the healing of the withered hand on the Sabbath.  Therefore we are to see it all as a continuum:  whatever is declared good must be for the restoration and healing and preservation of life, of goodness.  And this is the act of love.  So how do we discern what's best for us?  When do we know that we follow the letter of a law to life's detriment, rather than upholding the true spirit of the Law as best serves God and therefore also human beings?  This is the real question here, and it is one that never, ever leaves us.  As we take our rest on the Sabbath or other times, to pray, to meditate, to deepen our relationship with God, let us think about what makes for life, and the love that wants us to have life in abundance.

Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?

Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields.  And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.  And some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?"  But Jesus answering them said, "Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:  how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?"  And He said to them, "The Son of Man is also lord of the Sabbath."

Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught.  And a man was there whose right hand was withered.  So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.  But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Arise and stand here."  And he arose and stood.  Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing:  Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?"  And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.  But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

- Luke 6:1-11

In yesterday's reading, Jesus first saw a tax collector named Levi (who is known to us as Matthew the Evangelist).  With the simple words from Christ, "Follow Me," Matthew left all, rose up, and followed Him, Luke tells us.  Levi (Matthew) then gave a great feast at his house, for Jesus and other followers, including many tax collectors and others.  Pharisees and their scribes complained against Jesus, asking Him, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"  Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."  Then they asked Jesus why the disciples of John the Baptist fast often and make prayers, like those of the Pharisees -- and those of Jesus eat and drink?  Jesus said, "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one, otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old.  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined.  But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.  And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.'"

Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields.  And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.  And some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?"  But Jesus answering them said, "Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:  how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?"  And He said to them, "The Son of Man is also lord of the Sabbath."  My study bible points out that the correct observance of the Sabbath-rest is a major point of controversy between the Pharisees and Jesus.  To call Himself the Son of Man becomes a more illumined name for us here:  it's again a sort of "hiding in plain sight" of His identity.  Here, Jesus makes a closer claim for His divine identity, both God and man.  He refers the Pharisees to an episode in the history of the life of King David, in which he and his men were famished, and the priest allowed them to eat the showbread (see 1 Samuel 21:6).

Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught.  And a man was there whose right hand was withered.  So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.  But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Arise and stand here."  And he arose and stood.   I think it's important that we note the Gospel tells us this is a deliberate act by Jesus, a response to the thoughts of those who wish to find an accusation against Him.

Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing:  Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?"  And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.  But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.  My study bible explains:  "According to the scribes and Pharisees, healing was considered work and was not permissible on the Sabbath.  They believed they served God by being zealous for traditions they had built up around the Law, and they saw Jesus as a lawbreaker.  Their dedication to rigid legalism made them insensitive to God's priorities."  Jesus' priorities are clear in His pointed question here:  "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?"  It's once again playing on the emphasis introduced in yesterday's reading, on healing and restoration as part of God's salvation, and an essential understanding of the purposes of God's reaching out to humanity to save in mercy and everlasting love.

What's also clear from this reading is how our own priorities can get in the way of God's grace, God's reaching out toward us with God's message of intention and of love.  We can set up all kinds of rules and traditions - even those based on what we consider truly good, revelations of God's mercy - but when their observance gets in the way of God's true intention and love, then we must think again, reconsider, the real meaning behind "repent" (in the Greek, the word for repent literally means "change of mind").  But again, we look to the Hebrew Scriptures, especially the Psalms, and find over and over again reminders of God's steadfast love, God's pull to mercy.  Always, the option is to draw us into relationship, to call us back.  In the Gospels, we read of many acts of love that trump all other considerations, all other "good" rules, such as this one.  In the Greek, the word "economia" sets out the "rule" for the areas where we don't really know how to apply a principle or tradition.  It refers back to God's great "economia" - the plan for salvation, and the "rule" is to err on the side of mercy in applying any sort of understanding where things are fuzzy.  So if we look at today's readings in the light of our daily lives, we may think about ways in which they apply to ourselves.  Is there a rule one follows -- all in good intention, and made in the best of faith -- which can become a kind of slavish obligation in and of itself?  Let us remember that God is love, and it really doesn't matter on what personal level this may apply to us.  God's mercy and love trump everything; all must work together for the good, and thereby we can read again Jesus' question asking about doing good on the Sabbath.  In all circumstances, we can remember the question Jesus poses:  Is it lawful to do good or do evil, to save life (or soul) or destroy?  It's the "letter of the law" that can get in the way of our acceptance of its true spirit.  In what way does God's love call you forward into healing? into restoration?  into God's good? into God's rest?