Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Theme: COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF MARK CHAPTERS 1-6

Text: “And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.” – Mark 3:4.

 

Comment: Our Saviour severally made the point clear that the time for the literal observance of the Sabbath law had passed following the grace brought by Jesus Christ. The Sabbath law was a type which had a future fulfillment.  At any rate, the law of the Sabbath did not prevent one from doing good on the Sabbath day, in that “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath”. (Mark 2:27, 28)  The context of the text for today is that Christ observed that a number of people were watching closely if he would heal a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day. The Bible says he was “grieved for the hardness of their hearts”.  On seeing that he healed a man on the Sabbath day, the Pharisees “straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him”. (Mark 3:6) One cannot claim to be a Christian if one is not kindly disposed to the well being of others.  “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” – James 2:14-16.

Leave a Reply