Scripture Reading : Mark 2:13-28
Theme : Legalistic Objections to the Servant’s Ministry
This entire passage showed how the Pharisees objected to Jesus’ ministry using their legalistic standards. Jesus used two analogies of new cloth on old garment and new wine in old wineskins, to show the complete incompatibility of the Gospel of repentance with the Pharisaic legalism. The Pharisees focused on ritual, whereas Jesus, the Perfect Servant, focused on man’s true need.
- Jesus associated with sinners. The Pharisees used the term “sinners” to describe all who did not respect the Mosaic Law or rabbinic traditions. Such sinners were worthless in their sight and they would not even be found eating together. Their legalism prevented them from showing compassion to sinners. Jesus, on the other hand, had compassion on sinners. The Perfect Servant came precisely for the purpose of saving sinners (Mark 2:17).
- Jesus did not fast. It was unlikely that Jesus fasted but not His disciples. Though Mark 2:18 tells us that the charge was against Jesus’ disciples, it is reasonable to deduce that the charge was directed towards Jesus. It was still early in Jesus’ ministry; the antagonism against Him was not full blown yet, so the charge was seemingly brought against the disciples.
- Jesus did not obey the Sabbath. To the Pharisees, “plucking heads of grain” was work and amounted to breaking the Sabbath. Jesus used an Old Testament passage to show the Pharisees that God did not create the Sabbath to be a legalistic bondage, but for the purpose of His people’s benefit as they rested. Jesus’ claim that He was greater than the Sabbath means that He was claiming to be God.
Praying the Scripture
- Are there any legalistic practices that we still adhere to (e.g. keeping the Sabbath on Sundays), even after repenting and believing in the Gospel? Pray that we will have the wisdom to identify any legalism in our own hearts and put off all self-righteousness.
- Are we more concerned over rituals than man’s true needs? One example could be forbidding the use of church premises (or our own homes) so that the cleanliness of the place could be maintained. Pray that we can use the resources that God has given to us to serve people in the church.
- Do we find the teachings of the Bible burdensome? Jesus said that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) Let us pray that we will believe that God’s will is best for us (Romans 8:28), so that we will not find it burdensome to obey His will.
经文：马可福音2:13-28
主题：对仆人事工的律法主义性抗议
这整段经文显示法利赛人是如何以自己律法主义性的标准抵挡耶稣的事工的。耶稣使用了两个比喻，即缝在旧衣上的新布和装在旧皮袋里的新酒，表明悔改的福音与法利赛人的义是完全不符的。法利赛人注重的是礼仪，但那完美仆人耶稣注重的是人真正的需要。
- 耶稣与罪人交往。法利赛人使用“罪人”这标签形容凡不遵从摩西律法和拉比传统的人。这等罪人在他们眼里是无用的，而他们连吃饭也不会在一起。他们的律法主义阻止了他们向罪人展现怜悯。然而，完美仆人到来的目的就是要拯救罪人（17节）。
- 耶稣没有禁食。耶稣的门徒不可能不与祂一同禁食。虽然18节说他们控告的是耶稣的门徒，但我们可以合理推断这控告是向着耶稣的。由于这仍是耶稣事工的初期，而敌人与祂的对抗还未完全彰显，所以这项指控似乎是冲着门徒而来的。
- 耶稣没有遵守安息日。对法利赛人而言，“掐了麦穗”属于工作，也就是不遵守安息日。耶稣引用了一个旧约经文向法利赛人表示，神造安息日的目的并非要捆绑人，而是叫人休息得益。当耶稣声称祂比安息日更大时，祂实际上在说自己是神。
用经文祷告
- 我们固然悔改并相信福音了，但是否仍持守一些律法主义性的做法（如：周日守安息日）？祈求我们有智慧识别心中的律法主义，并脱去自己一切的义。
- 我们是否在乎礼仪过于人真正的需要呢？其中一个例子就是禁止教会场所（或自家）的使用，以便保持地方的整洁。祈求我们能使用神所赐予我们的资源服侍教会的弟兄姐妹。
- 我们是否觉得圣经的教导很累赘？耶稣说：“安息日是为人设立的，人不是为安息日设立的”（27节）。让我们祷告我们会相信神对我们的旨意是最美好的（罗8:28），叫我们遵从祂的旨意时不会感到累赘。
