WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY ABOUT THE SABBATH? (PART THREE)

 Friday, October 21, 2016

WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY ABOUT THE SABBATH? (PART THREE)

After reading Part Two, which spoke about the Lord Jesus entering the synagogue, let us now look at the Pharisees and what they said about Jesus Christ.

I will begin by explaining the meaning of the Pharisees. Who really were the Pharisees? The Pharisees formed one of the sects of Judaism which, during the time of Jesus Christ, made up about 5% of all Jews, but they had a great influence in their society because of their reputation for being highly religious. The very name means “those who are separated (from sinners)” in order to faithfully keep all the requirements of the Law of Moses.

The Pharisees are especially known from the Gospels, which usually describe them as opponents of Jesus, although He agreed with them on many matters of faith, unlike the Sadducees, another large sect whose followers were mostly among the priests.

The Pharisees began toward the end of the 2nd century B.C. and continued to flourish until 70 A.D., when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. The destruction of the temple broke the power of the Sadducees and left the Pharisees with leadership of their religion.

The Pharisees, who were RELIGIOUS zealots—or we could say radical in religion [observing the law of Moses]—accused Jesus Christ before the priests concerning His disciples breaking the law of Moses, including the breaking of the Sabbath (Mark 2:23–28). This meant that, in the eyes of the Pharisees, the Lord Jesus and His disciples were breaking the Law/Sabbath.

How did the Lord Jesus respond to the accusations of these Pharisees? Look at how wisely He answered! Jesus reminded the Pharisees how King David broke the law.

First: the Law of Moses says that only the priests were allowed to eat the consecrated bread. But we read that David entered the tabernacle and ate the bread—something that was contrary to the Law of Moses! Why then did Jesus use the example of David eating the bread? In this example, we learn that Jesus defended David when he ate the bread, even though what David did violated a command in Numbers 24:5–9.

Before the eyes of the LORD, the life of King David was more important than not eating the bread. That is why Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” With those words, the Lord Jesus made it very clear that the Sabbath was given to SERVE HUMANITY, not to be a ‘master’ over him!

Let us read about Jesus: When Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years, He told him, “Take up your mat and walk.” (John 5:8). This was on the Sabbath day. But when the Jews saw this man, they said to him, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” (John 5:10). Clearly, they said this because they knew well how the Sabbath was supposed to be kept.

This means that, according to the rules of Sabbath observance, this was an offense. So the question is: Why did Jesus break the Sabbath by allowing that man to carry his mat?

When the Jews were angry with Jesus because He had allowed the man to carry his mat on the Sabbath, the Lord Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.” (John 5:17). These are astonishing words! You who are God told us that on the Sabbath day we should not work but rest; yet we saw a man working, carrying a mat. We came to You, but not only did You fail to rebuke him, You even said that You too are working until now (on the Sabbath)!

If the Sabbath truly means ceasing from work, how could Jesus declare something so obviously in violation of the very law He Himself had given, saying that He was also working even on the Sabbath?

One day Jesus entered a synagogue where there was a woman with a spirit of infirmity. Jesus healed her. Yet Scripture says: “The ruler of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’” (Luke 13:14).

These words of the synagogue ruler show us that what Jesus did was considered breaking the Sabbath. The same question arises: Why did Jesus break the Sabbath?

You can see how even the synagogue ruler was upset when he saw Jesus heal the woman—how much more the Pharisees! When you read about Jesus, you find the foundation of the Gospel which our Lord Jesus came to reveal. Listen: “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” What does that sentence mean? Here Jesus is showing us that the One who has authority to break the Law is the very same One who gave the Law. The God who gave the Law to Moses through the Torah is the same God who can break it—He is the Lord of the Sabbath! And this is exactly what Almighty God did through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Understand this: in the time of the Law there was no salvation like we have today. This means that THE LAW HAS NO POWER NOR AUTHORITY TO SAVE. The Law was given through Moses, but grace, truth, and salvation came through Jesus Christ.

So, when we talk about the Sabbath and see people today fighting to observe it, these people, religions, or beliefs are making the very same mistake that the Pharisees made in the first century: they are making the Sabbath their ‘LORD’ and in doing so, they dishonor and disregard the Lord Jesus, who is ‘Lord of all and Lord of the Sabbath.’ The Bible says that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16).

You who keep the Sabbath—do you think it is right to deny the Lord of lords and bow to a day, making the Sabbath greater than Jesus?

Now let us carefully look at the foundation of the Sabbath in the Bible. We read from Hebrews 8:6:
“But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which He is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.”

Here the Bible clearly tells us that the new covenant is superior to the old covenant.

But what do those who keep the Sabbath say? They claim that the Sabbath is not of the Law but existed before the Law was given to Moses. Therefore, they insist that the Sabbath is still to be kept. This is not true. Let us continue.

The Bible says that the Law and its ordinances were only shadows:
“These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:17).

Again, let us read: “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.” (Hebrews 10:1).

Listen to me, reader! If the Law was only a shadow, then the Sabbath, being part of the Law, was also just a shadow of Christ. Now the reality, the substance, is in Christ.

This is why the Bible says: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17).

This means that the Law, including the Sabbath, was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. He is the true rest for humanity.

Therefore, whoever continues to fight to keep the Sabbath has not understood the Gospel and is still bound by the shadow of the Law instead of embracing the reality, which is Jesus Christ.

We must know that salvation is not in a day but in a person — Jesus Christ the Lord.

So, when you read and see some people argue about the Sabbath, claiming that it is eternal, remember that these are the same arguments made by the Pharisees in the days of Jesus, and He rebuked them.

The Sabbath pointed to Christ, and Christ Himself said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

Therefore, the rest (Sabbath) for a Christian is not in keeping Saturday or Sunday, but in entering into Christ Himself. He is our rest, our Sabbath.