Lord of the Sabbath

6 On a Sabbath, he passed through the grainfields.^(A) His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. ² But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” ^(B)

³ Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry— ⁴ how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?^(C) He even gave some to those who were with him.”^{(D) 5} Then he told them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

⁶ On another Sabbath^(E) he entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was shriveled. ⁷ The scribes and Pharisees were watching him closely,^(F) to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against him.^{(G) 8} But he knew their thoughts^(H) and told the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand here.”^[a] So he got up and stood there. ⁹ Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”^{(I) 10} After looking around at them all,^(J) he told him, “Stretch out your hand.”^(K) He did, and his hand was restored.^{[b] 11} They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

⁵ One person judges one day to be more important than another day.^(A) Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.^{(B) 6} Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord.^[a] Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God;^(C) and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. ⁷ For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.^{(D) 8} If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.^{(E) 9} Christ died and returned to life^(F) for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.^{(G) 10} But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.^{[b](H) 11} For it is written,

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.^(K)

The Law of Love

¹³ Therefore, let us no longer judge one another.^(L) Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.^(M)