Scripture Text (NRSV)
Mark 2:23-3:6
2:23 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as
they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.
2:24 The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on
the sabbath?"
2:25 And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his
companions were hungry and in need of food?
2:26 He 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."
2:27 Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not
humankind for the sabbath;
2:28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."
3:1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered
hand.
3:2 They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that
they might accuse him.
3:3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come forward."
3:4 Then he 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.
3:5 He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of
heart and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his
hand was restored.
3:6 The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the
Herodians against him, how to destroy him.