Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
- BSB Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
- NKJV Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
- NASB So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”
- NLT So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus claims lordship over the Sabbath itself, asserting his divine authority as the Son of Man. It matters because it makes his identity, not merely his argument, the decisive point.
Overview
Drawing on the exalted figure of Daniel 7, 'Son of Man' here signals authority that belongs to God alone. As Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus has the right to define its proper use and ultimately to fulfill it. The verse moves from defending the disciples to revealing who Jesus is, the divine Son who is the true rest for his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 12:8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
- Rev 1:10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet
- John 5:17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”
- Luke 6:5He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
- Eph 1:22He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
- John 9:14It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.
- Luke 13:15–16Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water?
- John 5:9–11Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.
- Mark 3:4He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” But they were silent.
- John 9:5–11While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
- John 9:16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 2:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.