Sabbath Rest Isn’t Earned—It’s Received | Mark 2:23-28

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day. Don't forget today we drop a chapter review of Mark 2 on The Weekly Vince Miller Show; check that out. It will add some perspective on Jesus by looking at Chapter 2 from a slightly higher level.

I would love to give a shout-out today to Joseph Myall from Klamath Falls, OR. Thanks for being a partner with the ministry. We cannot do what we do without the faithful support of families like yours. This is for you, Joseph!

Today, we’re looking at Mark 2:23-28:

One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” — Mark 2:23-28

Jesus and his disciples were walking through a field on the Sabbath, and they casually picked grain to eat. It was a simple, innocent act. An everyday moment. However, the religious leaders turned it into a legal trap and dispute.

To them, the issue was not their present physical hunger but religious rebellion. The religious leaders had built layers of tradition over centuries around God’s commands—so many that they’d lost sight of the heart behind the law.

Jesus answers with an account they’d all remember: David, while running for his life, was also hungry and desperate and ate not merely grain in a field but the sacred bread from within the Temple. It wasn’t sanctioned, yet God didn’t condemn him. Because sometimes, mercy takes precedence.

Then Jesus offers a correction they didn’t expect: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” In other words, the Sabbath isn’t a burden—it’s a blessing. A time for rest, renewal, and remembering who provides everything we need.

Then, Jesus takes his point to a whole new level. He claims authority not just to interpret the Sabbath but to own it: “The Son of Man [Jesus] is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

This wasn’t about rules—it was about who rules. Jesus was declaring that true spiritual rest isn’t found in rules. Rest is found in Him. and of course, they missed the point he was making.

Just like they did, we miss the point:

We still fall into the same trap.
We turn faith into performance.
We hustle for approval.
We keep spiritual scorecards.

But Jesus invites us to something entirely different—not a religion to prove, rules to follow, but a relationship to enjoy. Spiritual rest isn’t earned. It’s received. And real rest begins when we trust that his work—not ours—is what makes us right with God.

#LordOfTheSabbath, #SabbathRest, #MercyNotRules

ASK THIS:

1. Why do you think the Pharisees had such a hard time letting go of their rules?
2. In what ways do you find your worth in performance instead of God’s presence?
3. What would it look like for you to receive Sabbath as a gift, not a burden?
4. Where is Jesus inviting you to stop striving and simply rest?

DO THIS:

Set aside 10 minutes today to stop and rest in God's presence. No agenda, no noise. Just be still and let Jesus remind you that you're not defined by what you do—but by who He is.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, thank you for being my rest. Teach me to slow down, to trust your provision, and to find peace in your presence—not my performance. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Run To The Father.