Mark-Jesus Lawbreaker?
Life Group Questions
Key Passages: Mark 2:23-3:6

1. Read Mark 2:23-24

a. What are the Pharisees accusing Jesus’ disciples of? What is the Sabbath? What is it for? What are the disciples doing to bring the judgment from the Pharisees? Is this a legitimate criticism? Why or why not?

2. Read Mark 2:25-27; See also 1 Samuel 21

a. Why is Jesus’ response so powerful in this situation?

b. What can we learn from Jesus’ example when addressing our critics?

c. What is Jesus attempting to correct in the Pharisee’s theology? How had the Pharisees strayed so far from God’s original intent for the Sabbath? What can we learn from this example?

3. Read Mark 3:1-6

a. What additional light does Jesus shine upon the purpose of the Sabbath in this passage?

b. Discuss the significance of Jesus’ illustration of “doing good,” or “doing evil,” “saving a life,” or “killing” in the context of this passage. How is it possible that people who “earnestly” had sought after God only to stray so far from Him, His intentions, and His will to be wholly opposed to Him even as He stands right in front of them? What message does this passage send to the modern church?

c. What does the alliance between the Herodians and Pharisees tell us about the enemies of Jesus?