The Amplified Classic edition provides some additional salient details, And Jesus said to them, The Sabbath was made on account and for the sake of man, not man for the Sabbath; so the Son of Man is LORD even of the Sabbath.
The context of these verses is the condemnation from the Pharisees of Jesus's disciples picking heads of grain on the Sabbath to quell their hunger. Jesus responds that the Sabbath is a gift for humanity's well-being rather than a burdensome rule.
Science substantiates the benefits of a weekly 24-hour pause. A Harvard Medical School study in 2019 maintains that a non-negotiable 24-hour rest improves cognitive function (something all of us could profit from), greatly reduces cortisol (the pesky stress hormone), and lowers risks of chronic diseases. Consequently, the Sabbath's weekly rhythm offers a blessed reset that combats anxiety and fatigue, simplifying life by prioritizing restoration over obsessive break-neck achievement.
By declaring Himself Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus affirms its purpose as a life-giving, liberating practice under His authority rather than a legalistic trap of petty do's and don'ts concocted by the Pharisees and Sadducees, placing human tradition over God's holy and spiritual law and word, as well as elevating judgment over mercy. As Jesus's half-brother proclaimed, For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Jesus assured the Pharisees that the Sabbath has been created for the benefit of mankind, designed to liberate individuals from bondage to endless toil, reminding them of their redemption from slavery, both literally and spiritually. This blessed day of rest frees us from the cycle of a work-driven life, allowing time for reflection, worship, and reconnecting with spiritual siblings. It greatly simplifies life by setting a clear boundary between work and rest, ensuring that people firmly prioritize Almighty God over any competing material pursuits, thereby reducing or neutralizing the irritation and complexity of competing demands.
Asserting His authority as Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus declared that the Sabbath must remain a day of freedom rather than oppression, rejecting man-made laws which turn the Sabbath into a burden rather than the blessing it was intended to be.
