Jesus, Harvest and the Sabbath

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

1One Sabbath Jesus was going through the cornfields, and his disciples began to pick some ears of corn, rub them in their hands and eat the grain. 2Some of the Pharisees asked, ‘Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’

3Jesus answered them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.’ 5Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’

6On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shrivelled. 7The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shrivelled hand, ‘Get up and stand in front of everyone.’ So he got up and stood there.

9Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?’

10He looked round at them all, and then said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was completely restored.