Mark 2:18

The Letter of the Law? #

Mark 2:18-22*, 23-28

Introduction

Last week, Levi (Matthew) the Publican was saved, and hosted a dinner to celebrate his salvation! This didn't go over well with the Pharisee's. We will not go back, to that text as we dealt with their criticism, but we have a series of attacks on Jesus by the Pharisees here.

Notice the inclusion of the disciples of John. The Pharisees knew John to be strict in nature, and brought the disciples they could find to support them. Then used them to compare them to Christ's disciples. The devil will use whatever means he can employ to cause great division among the disciples of Christ. We must be wary of his devices.

2Cor. 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

These three attacks deal with the "letter of the law". The Pharisee's had created a system that was even more strict than the Law of God! The way they interpreted the Law of God was the most strict sense of the law. And they loved to hold that over people's heads.

2 Corinthians 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

I. Dealing with Fasting (19-20) #

  • The Pharisee's had come up with a rule about fasting twice a week, and boasted of it!
  • In his prayer he boasted:

Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

A. Attack #

1. Comparison #

  • They brought up the disciples of John, to give stronger argument that the disciples of Jesus were not spiritual!

2Cor. 10:12 ¶ For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2. Fasting does not make you spiritual #

B. Answer #

1. Marriage analogy #

2. Jesus being the bridegroom, and Matthew just being called, it was not the time for fasting! #

C. Time of fasting (20) #

1. There are times for fasting... #

  • Times going through a great hardship
  • Times of dealing with sin - to demonstrate repentance

2. Pharisee's silenced on their merit based fasting. #

II. Dealing with Judaism (21-22) #

  • While Jesus has the ear of the Pharisee's, he nails down another truth!

A. The Analogy - New Cloth (21) #

1. You don't take an old garment... and sew in a new piece of cloth! #

  • The new piece makes the old look worse... it becomes obvious when they are put together.

B. Application #

1. Jesus is the new cloth, Judaism is the old garment! #

Heb. 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

2. Jesus establishes a NEW Covenant/Testament #

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

C. Analogy - New wine (22) #

1. You cannot put Jesus in your old life! #

  • Jesus didn't come to fit into your old life... he came to give you new life!

2Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2. The Holy Spirit of God goes in the New man! #

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

III. Dealing with the Sabbath (23-28) #

  • On the Sabbath day, pulled corn to eat.

A. The Accusation #

  • The Pharisees in every way wanted to accuse

1. They were grasping at straws #

  • Jesus fulfilled the law... he didn't sin, and didn't break the law.
  • He broke what the Pharisees interpreted to be the law.

B. The Argument (25) "Have ye never read" #

1. The Pharisees prided themselves on knowing the Law #

  • They were certainly familiar with this story... however they had never thought about, nor made application!

    • There is a danger in knowing the Book, but never applying it to our life!

2. The need of man superseded the law of God. (26) #

C. The Application (27-28) #

1. Sabbath is a day of rest - it benefits man, it is needful for man #

2. Man was not made to "serve the sabbath" - We are not justified by serving the sabbath! #

Gal. 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

3. Jesus is God of the Sabbath! (28) #

  • Now our rest is not in a day but in a Person. Now the law is replaced by the Lord. Our rest is in Him. The whole subject is spelled out in Hebrews 4, where the discussion revolves around the whole subject of rest—creation rest, Canaan rest, and Calvary rest. - John Phillips
Tags: Preaching Outlines Mark