Mar 2:23-3:5 | PNT | STEP | He went through the corn fields on the sabbath . See notes on . Compare .

Mark 2:23-28

He went through the corn fields on the sabbath. See notes on Mt 12:1-8. Compare Lu 6:1-11. In the days of Abiathar the high priest. In 1Sa 21:1-9, Abimelech is represented as the high priest. Abiathar was his son and successor. The Revised Version gives the text of the best manuscripts by omitting "the high priest", and rendering it as "when Abiathar was high priest". The sabbath was made for man. The Sabbath rest; that is, rest of one day in seven was made for man, not for Jews only. This implies that it is to be a universal institution; that the good of man requires it, and that it is not an arbitrary enactment, but a wise and benevolent provision for the welfare of the race. Experience shows that men are happiest, most moral, most prosperous and healthiest where it is devoutly observed. The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. This affirms the Divine nature of Jesus. None but the Divine is Lord of a divine institution. Since Christ is Lord of the Sabbath day, he has the right to modify it, to adapt it to the new dispensation, and to change the time of its observance from the last day of the week to the first, so as to make it the memorial of the beginning of the New Creation, instead of commemorating the rest from the first creation.

Mark 3:1-5

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit SUMMARY OF MARK 3: The Man with the Withered Hand. The Pharisees and Herodians in Council. The Great Physician Healing. The Twelve Apostles Appointed. The Blasphemy of Ascribing His Divine Power to Beelzebub. The Sin That Hath No Forgiveness. Christ's Mother and Brethren.

He entered again into the synagogue. Of Capernaum. Compare Mt 12:9-14 Lu 6:6-11. For fuller notes, see Matthew. They watched him. The same critics who had found fault in the preceding chapter. There was present a man whose right hand was withered, and they watched to see whether the Lord would heal him on the Sabbath. Stand forth. He read their thoughts and determined to give prominence to the good work. He would heal him on the Sabbath, heal him in the synagogue, heal him before all. Is it lawful . . . to save life, or to kill? A home thrust at the fault-finders. They were harboring murderous thoughts; he was seeking to save life. Which was breaking the Sabbath? Looked round about on them with anger. Indignation.

Hardness of their hearts. Shown by their fault finding, evil thoughts, and silence by his questions.