Scripture Study: Mark 2:18-28

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 4min
Mark 2:18‑28  •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 6
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Verses 18-20. “And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto Him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber 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 shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” The fasting of John’s disciples was in accord with conviction under a broken law. Jesus’ disciples could not fast for they had the Bridegroom with them; they were the children of the bridechamber, and so could not fast, but rejoice that He was with them. But when He was gone, the joy of His presence would be turned into the sorrow His absence would create in their hearts; then shall they fast in those days. But see John 16:16-22,16A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. (John 16:16‑22) for their joy after His resurrection, which gives another reason for their not fasting.
Verses 21-22. “No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment, else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but the new wine must be put into new bottles.” The old is Judaism; the new is Christianity. The new wine—the truth and spiritual ceremonies of Judaism. The new wine would burst the old skin bottles; the new cloth—God’s righteousness—would not agree with man’s efforts to work out his own righteousness (Rom. 10:3, 43For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:3‑4)).
Grace and law do not mix; it is important for us to have done with what recognizes the first man. We have a new life; Christ risen from the dead, is the beginning of the creation of God (Col. 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18); Rev. 3:1414And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)). We are redeemed, and are children of God the Father. Christianity is not Judaism improved; it is a new order of things in the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet Christians have tried to mix up the two opposites—law and grace—which has resulted in a corrupt thing which we speak of as Christendom. The truth abides, may we abide by it.
Verses 23-28. “And it came to pass, that He went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day; and His disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto Him, Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful? And He said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he and they that were with him? How He went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the show bread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.”
The institution of the Sabbath, the sign of God’s covenant with Israel, was founded by God (Ex. 1:1717But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. (Exodus 1:17)). When God ended creating, He rested the seventh day; it was given to man (Exo. 16) with the Manna. When Israel was put under law it was given again. It is not “a” seventh day, but “the” seventh day. Israel did not keep the law; they transgressed, the covenant was broken.
But the Sabbath was made for man. The Lord brings before them the time when David was the rejected king and he ate the show bread. Now a greater than David was rejected, even God’s beloved Son, and could God delight in their keeping the Sabbath when they had broken His command? No. But the Son of Man is Lord of it, and He can use it for man’s benefit. This is what pleased Him, to show mercy to needy men. God could not respect those who despised and rejected His beloved Son. This is brought out in Chapter 3:1-5.
(Continued from page 131.)