Final answer:
In Mark 2:23-28, Jesus challenges traditional Sabbath laws by prioritizing human need over strict observance and asserts his authority as the 'Lord of the Sabbath'.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Mark 2:23-28, Jesus is portrayed as a reformer who challenges the traditional Jewish understanding of Sabbath observance. The passage describes an incident where Jesus and his disciples are walking through grain fields on the Sabbath. The disciples begin to pluck heads of grain, leading to criticism from the Pharisees who accuse them of doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath. Jesus responds by referring to the biblical account of David eating the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for priests, when he and his men were hungry. He uses this example to show that human need can take precedence over strict Sabbath rules, emphasizing the statement, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Jesus concludes by claiming the authority to interpret the Sabbath laws, calling himself the 'Lord of the Sabbath'.