2nd after pentecost year b - mark

Mark 2:23-3:6
²³One sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields; 
     and as the disciples made their way 
          they began to pluck heads of grain.  
²⁴The Pharisees said to Jesus, 
     “Look, 
          why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?”  
²⁵And Jesus said to them, 
     “Have you never read what David did 
          when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food?
               ²⁶He entered the house of God, 
                    when Abiathar was high priest, 
               and ate the bread of the Presence, 
                    which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, 
               and he gave some to his companions.”  
²⁷Then Jesus said to them, 
     “The sabbath was made for humankind, 
     and not humankind for the sabbath;
          ²⁸so the Human One is master even of the sabbath.”

3Again Jesus entered the synagogue, 
     and a man was there who had a withered hand.
          ²They watched Jesus to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, 
               so that they might accuse him. 
³And Jesus said to the man who had the withered hand, 
     “Come forward.” 
⁴Then Jesus said to them, 
     “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, 
          to save life or to kill?” 
But they were silent.  
⁵Jesus looked around at them with anger; 
     he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, 
          “Stretch out your hand.” 
               The man stretched it out, 
               and his hand was restored.  
⁶The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired 
     with the Herodians against Jesus, 
          how to destroy him.

Queeries for the text:
What's the deal with the Sabbath?
Are Jesus and the disciples free loaders?  Are they gleaning like Ruth?
Are there any laws in the Bible that God and people actually uphold as good throughout?
What would happen if David tried that now in a church?
How is the Sabbath made for us?  Do we act like there even is a Sabbath at all anymore?
When will they learn that they can't trap Jesus?  Haven't they read the gospels??
Why is Jesus creating a false binary?
Would their trap have worked if they'd realized Jesus' binary was false and then rejected it?
When am I the silent one?
What grieves Jesus today?
What is the relationship between the Pharisees and the Herodians? 

What are your queeries?



Here is what I preached on this text (also referenced are Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and 2 Corinthians 4:5-12).  I also reference Sarah Rosales for this prophetic word.