馬可福音2:23-3:6 Mark 2:23-3:6
- 馬克牧師
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
參考書目：每日靈糧天路系列 - 馬可福音讀經
安息日的問題
（太12‧1－8；路6‧1－5）
23耶穌當安息日從麥地經過。他門徒行路的時候，掐了麥穗。 24法利賽人對耶穌說：「看哪，他們在安息日為甚麼做不可做的事呢？」 25耶穌對他們說：「經上記着大衛和跟從他的人缺乏飢餓之時所做的事，你們沒有念過嗎？ 26他當亞比亞他作大祭司的時候，怎麼進了神的殿，吃了陳設餅，又給跟從他的人吃。這餅除了祭司以外，人都不可吃。」 27又對他們說：「安息日是為人設立的，人不是為安息日設立的。 28所以，人子也是安息日的主。」
治好枯乾了一隻手的人
（太12‧9－14；路6‧6－11）
1耶穌又進了會堂，在那裏有一個人枯乾了一隻手。 2眾人窺探耶穌，在安息日醫治不醫治，意思是要控告耶穌。 3耶穌對那枯乾一隻手的人說：「起來，站在當中。」 4又問眾人說：「在安息日行善行惡，救命害命，哪樣是可以的呢？」他們都不作聲。 5耶穌怒目周圍看他們，憂愁他們的心剛硬，就對那人說：「伸出手來！」他把手一伸，手就復了原。 6法利賽人出去，同希律一黨的人商議怎樣可以除滅耶穌。
各位平安，我們這一講來看馬可福音2:22-3:6
安息日的爭議：律法，還是人的需要更重要？
接下來這兩段經文，我們就更清楚地看到一件事情 —— 耶穌對律法的理解，跟法利賽人完全不一樣。
第一段，是關於安息日掐麥穗的故事。這個故事在《馬太福音》和《路加福音》裡也都有記載。有一天，耶穌和門徒在安息日從麥田經過，門徒一邊走，一邊掐了麥穗來吃。法利賽人一看到，馬上跳出來說：「等一下！你們怎麼可以在安息日做不該做的事？」
從一條誡命，變成幾千條規定。其實，安息日原本很簡單。十誡裡，上帝只說了一句話：「你當守安息日，定為聖日。」但在不斷流傳、解釋的過程中，法利賽人和宗教人士開始加上越來越多的定義：什麼叫做工作？做多少算工作？拿多重的東西算工作？走多遠算工作？結果，一條誡命，最後衍生出幾千條額外的規定。而在這些規定裡面，「掐麥穗」被定義成一種「工作」，所以法利賽人才敢這麼理直氣壯地指責耶穌和祂的門徒。
而耶穌用舊約裡大衛和跟隨者的故事來回應，這些陳設餅原本只有祭司可以吃的，但大衛卻因為肚子餓而吃了，耶穌的解釋是，人的需求是在宗教的律法之先的。27節: 又對他們說：「安息日是為人設立的，人不是為安息日設立的。 28所以，人子也是安息日的主。」
守主日是相當重要的事情，主日來到教會聚會也是應當的事情。但我們需要注意，主日來到教會的目的比守主日來得更重要。做基督徒不是一個禮拜兩個小時來了主日聚會，其他時間就可以任意妄為了。基督徒的身份是沒有放下的，無論何時何地都應當活出基督的樣式：愛，饒恕，侍奉和寬容。我們當把基督的心放在我們心中，而不是單單有守規矩的外貌。第二個安息日的故事，更尖銳。到了第三章，耶穌和法利賽人的矛盾更明顯了。
有一個手枯乾的人來到會堂找耶穌，而那一天，又是安息日。大家其實不是想知道他會不會得醫治，而是想「觀察」——耶穌到底會不會在安息日醫病。在當時的猶太規定裡，除非是危及生命的急事，或者像生孩子這種不能拖延的狀況，否則一律要等到隔天才能醫治。這其實是一個非常不人性、也非常不合理的規矩。
耶穌問了質疑者一個問題：「在安息日行善行惡、救命害命，哪樣可以呢？」法利賽人知道正確答案，卻不願意說，因為一旦說出口，就等於承認耶穌醫治是對的。於是，他們選擇沉默。
馬可福音特別記載了一句話：耶穌 “怒目”看著他們，又為他們心裡的剛硬而 “憂愁”。
你在這裡看到的耶穌，不是冷冰冰的，而是一位有情緒、有憤怒、也有憂傷的主。祂生氣，不是因為規矩被挑戰，而是因為人不願意去愛。祂憂傷，因為祂看到剛硬不悔改的心，像是父親看著悖逆的孩子，既生氣，又心疼。
律法是為了保護人、幫助人，但慢慢地，律法被不斷重新解釋：什麼時候可以？多久可以？什麼情況算例外？什麼情況不行？於是，法律書越來越厚，但犯罪卻沒有因此減少。這正是律法的限制：律法只能顯明人的罪，卻沒有能力使人行善。
律法與福音：一個非常重要的提醒
這裡就牽涉到一個非常重要的觀念，也是路德宗特別強調的——律法與福音（Law and Gospel）。在新約中我們看法利賽人，會覺得他們固守成規、頑固、傲慢，好像律法的解釋權都在他們手中。但說實話，當我們當基督徒久了，其實也很容易犯一樣的錯。舉個很簡單的例子。如果你看到某個人好幾個禮拜沒來主日、不讀經、不禱告，你心裡可能會想：「你看，我每個禮拜都來主日，我每天都有讀經禱告。」這念頭閃過的時候，有沒有一點點像法利賽人？
或者你關心地問一句：「欸，你好幾個主日都不來啊？」
你覺得你在關心，但對某些人來說，這句話聽起來其實像是一個責備，像是一條新的律法。原本讓人得自由的信仰，不小心就變成了一個新的枷鎖，套在別人的身上。
規矩的本意，其實是愛。
一開始接受福音的時候，我們是罪人，卻被接納，我們覺得罪得赦免、心得自由，那段時間歡喜快樂，信仰是甜美的。但當我們熟悉教義、熟悉制度、熟悉教會運作之後，我們有時候會不小心，變成「規矩的維護者」，卻忘了這些規矩最初是為了愛而存在。
就像孩子小的時候，父母會說：不准進廚房、不准碰爐子、不准碰熱水、不准碰刀子。這不是限制，而是出於愛。等孩子長大了，他們就能自己判斷什麼是該做、什麼是不該做。
耶穌在這裡，正是在提醒法利賽人，也提醒我們：規矩的根源，是愛人。
在這兩個故事裡，耶穌都在說明一件事：人的需要，比宗教規矩更重要。道德的原則不能改變，但人為加上的宗教規條，不能凌駕在人的需要之上。保羅在羅馬書 13章10節說到：愛就完全了律法。上帝賜下律法是因愛的緣故。
今日反思：
身為基督徒，我也當思考，對待人的時候，我是像耶穌一樣看重人的需要，體貼人的軟弱，又或者我是在用律法給人枷鎖，用律法管教人？
感謝你的聆聽，願上帝祝福你！
Question of the Sabbath
23One Sabbath He was walking along [with His disciples] through the grainfields, and as they went along, His disciples began picking the heads of grain. [Deut 23:25; Matt 12:1-8; Luke 6:1-5] 24The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25Jesus said to them, “Have you never read [in the Scriptures] what David did when he was in need and was hungry, he and his companions; [1 Sam 21:1-6] 26how he went into the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for anyone but the priests to eat, and how he also gave it to the men who were with him?” [1 Sam 21:1-6] 27Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. [Ex 23:12; Deut 5:14] 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath [and He has authority over it].”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
1Again Jesus went into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. [Matt 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-11] 2The Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him [in the Jewish high court]. 3He said to the man whose hand was withered, “Get up and come forward!” 4He asked them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5After looking around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness and arrogance of their hearts, He told the man, “Hold out your hand.” And he held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored. 6Then the Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians [to plot] against Him, as to how they might [fabricate some legal grounds to] put Him to death.
Peace be with you all.In this session, we are looking at the Gospel of Mark, chapter 2 verse 22 through chapter 3 verse 6.
Sabbath Controversy: The Law, or Human Need?
In these two passages, we see even more clearly that Jesus’ understanding of the Law is completely different from that of the Pharisees.
The first story is about picking grain on the Sabbath. This account also appears in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. One Sabbath day, Jesus and His disciples were walking through the grainfields. As they went, the disciples began to pick heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they immediately objected and said,“Wait—why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
From One Commandment to Thousands of Rules
Originally, the Sabbath commandment was very simple.In the Ten Commandments, God gave just one instruction:“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
But over time, through constant interpretation and expansion, the Pharisees and religious leaders added more and more definitions:What counts as work? How much work is too much? How heavy is too heavy to carry?How far is too far to walk?
Eventually, a single commandment grew into thousands of additional rules. Within this system, “picking grain” was classified as work—which is why the Pharisees felt justified in accusing Jesus and His disciples.
Jesus responded by pointing to a story from the Old Testament: when David and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was technically reserved only for priests. David did so because they were hungry. Jesus’ point was clear: human need comes before religious law.
In verses 27–28, Jesus says:“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
The Purpose of the Lord’s Day
Keeping the Lord’s Day is important. Gathering for worship on Sunday matters.But we must remember this: the purpose of the Lord’s Day is more important than merely observing it.
Being a Christian is not about showing up for two hours on Sunday and then living however we want the rest of the week. Our identity as Christians never gets switched off. Wherever we are, we are called to live like Christ—showing love, forgiveness, service, and patience.
What God desires is not the outward appearance of rule-keeping, but hearts shaped by the mind of Christ.
A Sharper Sabbath Conflict
The second Sabbath story is even more intense.By chapter 3, the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees becomes unmistakable.
A man with a withered hand comes into the synagogue, and once again, it is the Sabbath. The people are not truly wondering whether the man will be healed. They are watching closely—to see whether Jesus will heal on the Sabbath.
According to Jewish regulations at the time, healing was only allowed if a life was in immediate danger, or in urgent cases like childbirth. Anything else had to wait until the next day. This was an extremely unhuman and unreasonable rule.
Jesus asks His critics a question:“Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?”
They knew the correct answer—but they refused to respond. To answer would mean admitting that Jesus was right. So they remained silent.
Mark’s Gospel records something striking here:Jesus looked at them in anger and was deeply grieved by their hardness of heart.
This is not a cold, distant Jesus.This is a Jesus who feels anger—and sorrow.
He is angry not because rules are challenged, but because people refuse to love.He is grieved because He sees hardened, unrepentant hearts—like a father looking at a rebellious child, angry and heartbroken at the same time.
The Limits of the Law
The Law was given to protect people and help people.But over time, it became endlessly redefined:When is it allowed?For how long?What counts as an exception?What does not?
The law books grew thicker and thicker, yet wrongdoing did not decrease.
This exposes the limitation of the Law:The Law can reveal sin, but it cannot make people righteous.
Law and Gospel: A Crucial Distinction
This brings us to a very important concept—one especially emphasized in Lutheran theology: Law and Gospel.
When we read the New Testament, it’s easy to see the Pharisees as rigid, stubborn, and arrogant—acting as if they alone owned the authority to interpret God’s Law. But if we are honest, long-time Christians can fall into the same trap.
Here’s a simple example.
If you notice someone hasn’t attended Sunday worship for several weeks, doesn’t read Scripture, and doesn’t pray, you might think,“Well, I go to church every week. I read the Bible and pray every day.”
When that thought crosses your mind, doesn’t it sound just a little like a Pharisee?
Or maybe you say,“Hey, I haven’t seen you at church for a few Sundays.”
You may think you’re being caring—but to some people, those words sound like judgment. They feel like a new law.
And suddenly, a faith meant to bring freedom becomes another chain placed on someone’s shoulders.
The Heart Behind the Rules Is Love
When we first receive the gospel, we come as sinners—and we are accepted.We experience forgiveness, freedom, and joy. Faith feels sweet.
But as we become familiar with doctrine, church systems, and traditions, we can unintentionally turn into “guardians of the rules” and forget why those rules existed in the first place.
It’s like parents telling young children:Don’t go into the kitchen.Don’t touch the stove.Don’t touch hot water or knives.
These rules are not restrictions—they are expressions of love.
As children grow, they learn to discern right from wrong on their own.
This is what Jesus is reminding the Pharisees—and us:the root of every rule is love for people.
In both Sabbath stories, Jesus makes one thing clear:human need matters more than religious regulations.
Moral truth does not change, but man-made religious rules must never override human need. As Paul writes in Romans 13:10,“Love fulfills the law.”God gave the Law because of love.
Today’s Reflection
As Christians, we must ask ourselves:When I treat others, am I like Jesus—attentive to their needs and gentle toward their weakness?Or am I using the Law to burden them, to control them, or to correct them?
Thank you for listening.May God bless you.
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