The Sabbath Day: Time to Rest

 

Matthew 12

1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads

     of grain and eat them.

2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."

3 He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to

     do, but only for the priests.

5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?

6 I tell you that one [1] greater than the temple is here.

7 If you had known what these words mean, `I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' [2] you would not have condemned the

     innocent.

8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

 

Mark 2

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads

     of grain.

24 The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"

25 He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?

26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only

     for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."

27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

 

Mark 3

1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.

2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the

     Sabbath.

3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."

4 Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they

     remained silent.

5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your

     hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

 

On the last day (7th day) of creation, God decided to rest (the Sabbath, or Jewish Saturday, not the linear Sunday).  This day of rest was passed on from God to the Jews (God's chosen people, the Hebrews, Israelites, or the Christians of the Old Testament). 

 

Back in Old Testament times, no type of work was allowed on the Sabbath (no cooking, no cleaning, nothing that required any effort, etc.) in order to have fellowship with God, and give us rest from our busy schedules.

 

The Sabbath day is from Friday after sunset to Saturday after sunset (Sunday- 1st day,  Saturday- 7th day).  This is according to the Jewish calendar.  The Jewish/ Hebrew word for Sabbath is "Shabat."

 

Jesus came to earth in order to carry out the Gospel of salvation and to remove the law of Moses or the Ten Commandments.  Jesus replaced all of the old laws with two new laws: (1) love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind (2) love your neighbor as yourself (these are the laws Christians are required to live by today).

 

The Sabbath should not be a legalistic thing.  Today, God wants us to view the Sabbath as a time to rest and fellowship with God.  The Sabbath does not necessarily have to be Sunday, or Saturday.  The Sabbath can be whatever day you want it to be.  God made the Sabbath for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  In other words, God knows we are human and we will eventually get tired.  He does not want us to burn ourselves out.  He wants us to have enough energy to devote our time to Him.

 

This is my challenge for you: dedicate an entire day (24 hour period) to resting in the Lord’s presence.