Sabbath Keeping - Part II - The NEW Testament

Today we are going to look at Jesus' treatment of the Sabbath.

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; (Matthew 12:1a)

We already have a problem here, don't we? He is travelling on the Sabbath.

and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. (Matthew 12:1b )

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. (Matthew 12:2 )

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; (Matthew 12:3)

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? (Matthew 12:4)

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? (Matthew 12:5)

What does Jesus mean, "They are blameless?"

They kindle a fire, they carry firewood in, they cut the throats of animals, they do things that are a violation of the Sabbath, and are blameless.

Jesus' argument is that there were exceptions to the Sabbath Keeping in the Old Testament to and God permitted the exceptions. There were exceptions to the laws and God permitted the exceptions. The Pharisees would have to agree with Jesus since they knew what about those exceptions.

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? (Matthew 12:5)

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. (Matthew 12:6)

So, He is arguing from authority here. Something that is in more authority than the law and the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. (Matthew 12:7-8)

That is pretty bold. His disciples are breaking the Sabbath and He tells them there are exceptions to the Sabbath and there is something greater than the Sabbath and He is standing here right in front of you. "I am Lord, even of the Sabbath Day".

That was pretty much blasphemy to the Pharisees. People have been put to death for many centuries for violating the Sabbath and He is standing in front of them and saying that they (his disciples) can violate it because I am Lord of it (the sabbath).

That was a terrible shock to the Pharisees and this was the kind of thing that ultimately got Jesus put to death.

In Mark 2:27, Jesus adds to this when He says, "The sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath, therefore the Son of Man is also, Lord of the Sabbath."

In John 5:8, He commands a man to take up his bed and walk in violation of the Sabbath. There was a prohibition against the law of carrying any kind of burden and they get upset and angry at Him because he commanded a man to get up and carry his bed on the Sabbath.

Jesus never preached a sermon and made any big deal over the Sabbath. And Jesus never kept the Sabbath day the way it was supposed to be kept. So then, in the strictest sense, according to the law, He never kept the Sabbath Day. He would have been stoned if He was living in Old Testament times. Actually, until His death, He was living in OT times and they did want to stone Him. Even though Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are part of the New Testament in the Bible (our book), it is really still the Old Testament era. The New Testament did not start until Jesus died and was resurrected and the Church was born.

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? (John 10:32)

You will notice when you read the Scriptures that every occurrence in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, where Jesus healed on the Sabbath, the Pharisees sought to accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath. Even the witnesses of Jesus' time say that He did not keep the Sabbath. Take a look in John 9:16a.

John 9:16a Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day.

There are those who will tell you that He kept the Sabbath and so should we, but the Scriptures reveal that when it came to the Laws of the Sabbath, He constantly broke them. The fact that He went up to the synagogue on the Sabbath does not mean that He kept the Sabbath, it just means He knew where the Jews would be and it would be a good opportunity to preach to them.

Let's close with this verse, again.

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Not only is He Lord of the sabbath day, but He is our Sabbath Day...everyday. He is our Sabbath-Rest, wherein we have ceased from our own labors (works of righteousness). We will cover this more, later.

Part III we will cover what the Apostle's treatment of the Sabbath was.

Jesus never preached a sermon and made any big deal over the Sabbath.

And Jesus never kept the Sabbath day the way it was supposed to be kept. So then, in the strictest sense, according to the law, He never kept the Sabbath Day. He would have been stoned if He was living in Old Testament times. Actually, until His death, He was living in OT times and they did want to stone Him.

Even though Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are part of the New Testament in the Bible (our book), it is really still the Old Testament era. The New Testament did not start until Jesus died and was resurrected and the Church was born.

And "Sabbath Keepers" today, do not keep it in the strictest sense as depicted in the OT. It is impossible. You cannot talk about anything for 24 hours except the things of God.

Funny how the Pharisees always criticized Him about doing things on the Sabbath.

Good point, about the OT still in effect until Jesus died and "signed" the New Covenant with His blood.

There are those who will tell you that He kept the Sabbath and so should we, but the Scriptures reveal that when it came to the Laws of the Sabbath, He constantly broke them. The fact that He went up to the synagogue on the Sabbath does not mean that He kept the Sabbath, it just means He knew where the Jews would be and it would be a good opportunity to preach to them.

Another very good point.

And the same is true for the Apostle Paul and others.

but the Scriptures reveal that when it came to the Laws of the Sabbath, He constantly broke them.

This is highly misleading. Jesus broke the Pharisee's law, not God's. Huge difference. Unless you can differentiate between the two you ain't got a case.

You should read libertad's Sabbath Keeping post on the Old Testament. Jesus did not keep it and the point is, that HE is Lord of the Sabbath. He can do whatever He wants. And what He does, are deeds of mercy, grace and love.

Some excerpts from libertad's other post in case you don't read it.

And then Exodus 16:29, “let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.”

In other words they did not go and have a big church meeting on the Sabbath. They did not travel. They were to stay home and rest. Sabbath was about resting. They were commanded to stay home. No one is to go to meetings on that day. I wonder how that would go over. Probably not too well.

Exodus 20:10 – No one is to work. Not the son or daughter or the cattle. Nothing!

Exodus 23:12 – The ox and the ass are to rest also.

Exodus 35:3 – They are to kindle no fire. If you get’s cold you just stay cold.

Numbers 15:32 – Gather no firewood. They could not pick up a stick of firewood on the Sabbath.

Do you recall that someone was stoned for gathering firewood?

This is highly misleading. Jesus broke the Pharisee's law, not God's. Huge difference. Unless you can differentiate between the two you ain't got a case.

as well, the Sabbath was made for man. Not man for the Sabbath. And these are the seed of Abraham. The land is theirs. Not the self-religious pharisees.

Jesus worked on the Sabbath. Exodus 20:10 prohibits this.

But Jesus was working the works of the One that sent Him.

Jesus superceded the Sabbath because He was Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus was always resting (in His Father) yet always working (doing His Father's will).

He went out of his house on the Sabbath (also prohibited) and healed. This is why He says, "Go and learn about mercy".

This is interesting. I was just thinking about this thing of Sabbath keeping yesterday.

God established a day of rest at the very beginning when He created life. Gen 2:2-3

He re-emphasized the importance of setting aside one day out of seven to give to Him. Exodus 8:8-11

He gave numerous promises throughout the OT of a close walk with Him for those who would observe the sabbath rightly. Isaiah 56:1-8;Isaiah 58 (whole chapter); Jeremiah 17:19-27.

Jesus came and said in Matthew 5:17-19, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Then Mark 2:23-28 ... It's really not an issue, but I just wonder if Jesus really didn't observe the sabbath. I know He didn't the way the Pharisees demanded the Jews to, but according to His own establishment, did He? In any case also Mark 3:1-5; Matt. 12:1-28...)

The whole point of Jesus being Lord of the sabbath, I don't believe is to free me from it so that I can do whatever I want on that day. Will He condemn a soul for observing His day on Saturday or Sunday ... or whatever day they observe it on? Was that really the point?

The Spirit of the law is higher than the letter of the law, and greater and requires the work of GOD (grace) in a life in order to fulfil. (Matthew 5-7)

Therefore, I have been set free in Christ to do His will and not my own. So the sabbath (whatever day it is observed on) is His day and to be observed so by me. Can I not give Him ONE out of seven to just be completely focused on HIM and set aside the daily responsibilities and cares of earthly life? Every day should be His, but you know what I mean. Set it aside to set aside all other things in order to specifically spend time with Him. It seems to me to amount to this: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8
And
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Mark 12:30-31

Sabbath simply means "intermission" (Hebrew), "day of weekly repose"(Greek).

It is a day specified by God to be set aside for Him to rest and DO GOOD (not do whatever pleases our own selves).

Anyhow, this is how I feel about it for myself. I am still learning to put this into practice as I'm not always sure how to in these days, but I desire to and am learning.

I appreciate what has been shared, and I hope it's okay I put in my one cents worth. :o) If not, just discard it. :o)

Blessings to all of you!!

Christ is worthy!!

We have no such command to set one day aside and not work. With that said, if I could take 3 or 4 off, I would.

Ruthann, it's optional for you and no doubt a good thing to give your body a rest. But, what is not optional for all who follow the Lamb is to be in His rest everyday.

Taking 1,2,3 or more days off a week is no doubt a benefit, however, Jesus, by his own example and words did not make it a rule and neither should we make it a rule for others or even ourselves.

I just wish people would stop trying to say they keep it, because no one on earth keeps it the way God instructed it to be kept.

People should just say that they like to take off one day a week from work and spend as much time with the Lord as possible.

It's not a going to fellowship and then come back to lives that are lived mostly unconscious of Him, His will or His Body.

Jesus-is-God, just want to clarify for others that you are talking about "going" to someplace to fellowship with other Believers, right?

In other words, we don't go to some physical destination to fellowship with God, since He is with us, where we are.

Praise Him for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

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This thread seem fishy. Alot went on about this subject a few months ago before it was banned. The Bible teaches that Jesus kept the law perfectly (John 8:29,46,55;I Peter 2:22;Heb. 4:15; etc.). He had to do this in order to be the perfect sacrifice for sin. If he was a transgressor, He would not have been the perfect sacrifice and therefore not a savior.
What He did not keep was the added laws of the Pharisees, etc.

Ruthann, working on Sundays?

What about Christians in labor camps having to work 7 days a week? Think about that one?

Why is Sunday so special? What does that imply if there are some Christians that have to work on Sunday? The Sabbath was not so important to Jesus. He picked corn on Sunday and healed on Sunday.

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Ruthanna,

I don't think they ban subjects, they may ban threads that get "out of hand".

Yes, Abraham was a Gentile and did not observe the Sabbath. There was no such command to him, or Noah, or Isaac or Jacob. Even Moses did not observe it until the Lord gave him the commandment. Moses knew nothing about it.

JB, your verse.

John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Here is the key JB, Jesus pleased His father and did not sin. It never said that He kept every jot and tittle of the law. However, He did not violate the 10 commandments, you can be sure. Not only did he not commit adultery, he did not lust. Or murder, he did not hate. And as for the Sabbath, He kept the spirit of that one to. He entrusted Himself to His Father everyday, every minute and rested in His Father's loving care. And in fact, He is the Lord of the Sabbath so He can do anything He wants on the Sabbath as long as He is pleasing His Father. Same with us.

But did he go outside on the Sabbath? Yes
Did He travel? Yes
Did He work? Yes

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

And that is precisely the difference today. Pleasing the Father and Keeping the Law are not synonymous.

Ruthanna, I don't think there is anything "fishy" about this thread. It is a good study. JB, probably never heard that Jesus did not keep all the ceremonial law. He did keep the Mosaic law. But now the law of God is written in your heart and when you are walking in the Spirit and in love then you are pleasing the Father. If you sin, 1 John 1:7, you have an Advocate with the Father. You are not bound to external ordinances.

Everything takes place in the heart first and that is what God is interested in.

More hi-jinks from the debate society?

The whole point of Jesus being Lord of the sabbath, I don't believe is to free me from it so that I can do whatever I want on that day. Will He condemn a soul for observing His day on Saturday or Sunday ... or whatever day they observe it on? Was that really the point?

Ruthanna, you miss the point if you think God just gave us ONE day where we are "not supposed to do what WE want".

JIG,

What exactly were you addressing?

What was your main point?

That is "walking in the Spirit" - but because GOD Knows that this "walk" is and would be a very difficult thing for us to do - He, in His Mercy, gave us all of the "Dos and Don'ts" even of the N.T..

Slight correction: God knows that this "walk" is and would be IMPOSSIBLE for us to do, period without His indwelling Spirit, without His life in us.

Not sure what you mean by "Dos and Don'ts".

I thought we walk by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. His laws (your dos and don'ts) are written in our heart and He leads us by His Spirit.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

I suspect that this agrees with you and that we are just probably using different words.

But, I am sure you will agree that this Christian walk is absolutely impossible apart from His life indwelling us.

enduretotheend, you had to admit in a later post that Jesus kept the mosaic law, but your first posts left out this important "little" detail. Was that intentional? It provides a twisted picture of Jesus when you say that he did not keep the law because then he would have sinned. Can you see that point? I take issue with careless handling of scripture like that and libertad made the same mistake.
Read Exodus 16:29 in context and you will see that it refered to not going out to gather manna, so Jesus did not break the law when he left the house on the Sabbath. He also didn't break the law when he healed on the Sabbath, because it was only in the pharisees' clouded thinking that this was prohibited "work". Jesus broke the pharisees' additions to the law of God because they had completely lost sight of what He truly required.
While I agree that we have our Sabbath rest in Jesus under the new Covenant, we should not misquote/misinterpret scripture in order to prove this point. Or any point.

He did travel, though.

Good point SV.

Exodus 16:29, “let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.”

Exodus 16:29
29 See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

Abide ye every man in His place.

I did not mean to say He kept the Mosaic and ceremonial law. I was thinking 10 commandments and wrote Mosaic law and when I said ceremonial law, that was just a mistake. Sorry.

What He did was that He loved God with all His heart and His neighbor as Himself. By doing this he not only kept the letter of the 10 commandments but the Spirit, also. He did not lust or hate or sin in His heart.

He most definitely went out of His place to gather manna (subsistence).

This makes people stumble, because they have turned God's Word into a rulebook.

In all that Jesus did, He did not sin, yet pleased His Father in all things.

Did not Jesus keep the law? Did He pick and choose which laws to keep?

You will find the answer here.
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=37356&forum=34

Did Jesus say to the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in paradise, as long as you observe the sabbath."

Come on folks. Jesus saves, the sabbath is a day...

Did not Jesus keep the law? Did He pick and choose which laws to keep?

Very good question. Lets first examine a few misconceptions about the new testament.

1. The Gospels are a historical narrative about the life and death of Christ. They are contained in the New Testament but in content a huge part was under the dispensation of the old covenant. Christ was here to facilitate and shift in the dispensation paradigm as the Jews understood it. But the shift didn't occur still he died, rose from the dead and sent the promise of the father.

It is important to understand what dispensation Jesus was speaking under. Jesus couldnt teach many things because humanity(adam) would not be able to receive such teaching without the holy spirit (and that even included his disciples). So when we read new testament gospel narratives we must understand that most times Jesus was speaking under the old testament dispensation as a background context. So because we see Jesus imply people should tithe for instance remember he is speaking specifically to Jews who were under old testament dispensation (trying to show them that they focused on the less important things of that dispensation) we can and should learn from all Jesus said but we need to rightly divide to avoid erroneous doctrine based on a lack of understanding the contextual dispensation in the background setting.

2. Jesus was the messiah and the law incarnate.

3. Jesus came to fulfill the law in his death and resurrection.

4. The new covenant was ushered in when Christ died and rose again. Not while he was living on earth.

5.While he was living on earth he was a teacher of the law (Torah / logos) and was indeed the law(Torah / logos) incarnate (Jesus is the word remember. So Jesus is the sabbath, circumcision etc ...but that a separate thread)

6. While Jesus taught under the old dispensation he constantly tried to show people often the things they were so focused on weren't the things that really mattered to God e.g. sabbath, tithing was of less significance than showing mercy. Jesus tried to shift the paradigm of perspective. Repentance is a shift in nature from death to life

7. Jesus tried to show them the Spirit of the law. But they could only see the letter of the Law (and we know the letter kills see 2 Corinthians 3)

8.
The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[b]

its funny how the lord says the things he commanded and not the Torah surely he should have said "teach them to obey the Torah especially the sabbath"

Hebrews 9 (Amplified Bible)

Hebrews 9
1NOW EVEN the first covenant had its own rules and regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanctuary [but one] of this world.(A)

2For a tabernacle (tent) was erected, in the outer division or compartment of which were the lampstand and the table with [its loaves of] the showbread set forth. [This portion] is called the Holy Place.(B)

3But [inside] beyond the second curtain or veil, [there stood another] tabernacle [division] known as the Holy of Holies.(C)

4It had the golden [a]altar of incense and the ark (chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold. This [ark] contained a golden jar which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the [two stone] slabs of the covenant [bearing the Ten Commandments].(D)

5Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.

6These arrangements having thus been made, the priests enter [habitually] into the outer division of the tabernacle in performance of their ritual acts of worship.

7But into the second [division of the tabernacle] none but the high priest goes, and he only once a year, and never without taking a sacrifice of blood with him, which he offers for himself and for the errors and sins of ignorance and thoughtlessness which the people have committed.(E)

8By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the [true Holy of] Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former [the outer portion of the] tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing,

9Seeing that that first [outer portion of the] tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present age). In it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper.

10For [the ceremonies] deal only with clean and unclean meats and drinks and different washings, [mere] external rules and regulations for the body imposed to tide the worshipers over until the time of setting things straight [of reformation, of the complete new order when Christ, the Messiah, shall establish the reality of what these things foreshadow--a better covenant].

11But [that appointed time came] when Christ (the Messiah) appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and are to come. [Then] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with [human] hands, that is, not a part of this material creation,

12He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us).

13For if [the mere] sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body,(F)

14How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who [b]by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent [c]divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?

15[Christ, the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance--since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement.

16For where there is a [last] will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established,

17For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive.

18So even the [old] first covenant (God's will) was not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without the shedding of blood.

19For when every command of the Law had been read out by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of slain calves and goats, together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled both the Book (the roll of the Law and covenant) itself and all the people,

20Saying these words: This is the blood that seals and ratifies the agreement (the testament, the covenant) which God commanded [me to deliver to] you.(G)

21And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and all the [sacred] vessels and appliances used in [divine] worship.

22[In fact] under the Law almost everything is purified by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins.

23By such means, therefore, it was necessary for the [earthly] copies of the heavenly things to be purified, but the actual heavenly things themselves [required far] better and nobler sacrifices than these.

24For Christ (the Messiah) has not entered into a sanctuary made with [human] hands, only a copy and pattern and type of the true one, but [He has entered] into heaven itself, now to appear in the [very] presence of God on our behalf.

25Nor did He [enter into the heavenly sanctuary to] offer Himself regularly again and again, as the high priest enters the [Holy of] Holies every year with blood not his own.

26For then would He often have had to suffer [over and over again] since the foundation of the world. But as it now is, He has once for all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice [of Himself].

27And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment,

28Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and [d]once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.