A Study on the Sabbath Day
A. Jesus' own Words
1.
Matt. 19:16-21
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good
Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said
unto him, Why callest thou
me good? there is
none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not
commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things
have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
(Note: Jesus did not say that this man needed
to keep the Sabbath to inherit eternal life. If it were that important, I believe Jesus would have
mentioned it.)
2. Matt. 22:36-40
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto
him, Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets.
3. John 5:1-17
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue
Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk,
of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain season into
the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of
the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain
man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw
him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man,
when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming,
another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took
up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him
that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry
thy bed. He
answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed,
and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said
unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for
Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple,
and said unto him, Behold,
thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was
Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus,
and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
but Jesus answered them, My
Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
(Note
that even Jesus broke the Sabbath according to the Jews. Jesus also makes a point to state that
God the Father is working, and therefore, He is working.)
4. Matt. 12:1-8
At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through
the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of
corn, and to eat. 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. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he
was an hungred, and they that were with him;
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? 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? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than 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.
(Note: Jesus does not condemn His disciples
for breaking the Sabbath. He
condemns the people judging them.
He also makes it clear that He is Lord of even the Sabbath day. In other words, Jesus is the one who
determines what is right and wrong to do on the Sabbath day.)
5. Matt. 12:9-14
And when he was departed thence, he went into
their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it
lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said
unto them, What man shall
there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the
sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than
a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the
other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they
might destroy him.
6. Mark 2:23-27
And it came to pass, that he went through the corn
fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the
ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the
sabbath day that which is not lawful?
And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when
he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went
into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the
shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to
them which were with him? And he said
unto them, The sabbath was
made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
(Note
that the Sabbath was made for man.
This means God gave this law for the good of the people. He knew rest and worship were
profitable. However, man was not
made for the Sabbath. This means
that the meaning of our life should not be wrapped up in keeping the Sabbath
law.)
7. John
13:34-35
A
new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you,
that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have
love for one another.Ó
(Note that the new commandment given by Jesus is
to love. People will know that we
are followers of Christ if we love.
It is as simple as that.)
B. The Bible is clear.
1. Col. 2:16-17
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in
drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath
days: Which are a shadow of
things to come; but the body is
of Christ.
(Note: The following is the Greek definition of
the word ÒSabbathÓ in verse 16.
The same word is used for Sabbath in Exodus 20:8.)
4521. saÀbbaton sabbaton, sab«-bat-on; of Hebrew origin (H7676); the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of
weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution
itself); by extension, a se'nnight, i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths;
likewise the plural in all the above applications:-sabbath (day), week.
(Note that no one should judge someone for not
keeping the sabbath day.)
2. Rom. 14:1-14
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth
that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him
that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for
God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his
own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able
to make him stand. One
man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded
in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that
regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the
Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth
not, and giveth God thanks.
For none of us liveth to himself, and
no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and
whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are
the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he
might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother?
or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to
me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but
judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that
there is nothing
unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him
it is unclean.
(Note that each person can regard which ever day
he/she wants unto the Lord.)
3. Acts 15:5-29
But there rose up certain of the sect of the
Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to
consider of this matter.
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose
up, and said unto them, Men and
brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth
should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the
hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference
between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt
ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers
nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Then
all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring
what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after
they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared
how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for
his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After
this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is
fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon
whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto
God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we
trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we
write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them
that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Then pleased
it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their
own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men
among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren
send greeting unto the brethren
which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that
certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your
souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one
accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that
have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent
therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy
Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood,
and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep
yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
(Note
that the Holy Ghost did not tell them to tell the Gentiles to keep the Sabbath
in verse 28. I believe it would
have been mentioned if it were important for the Gentiles to follow since the
Sabbath day was not a custom of the Gentiles.)
4. Rom. 13:10
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
(Note:
This verse says it very clearly.
LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW.)
5. Gal. 4:4-10
But when the fulness of the time
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To
redeem them that were under the law, that
we might receive the adoption of sons. And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son;
and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew
not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known
God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly
elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and
months, and times, and years.
(Note that God sent Jesus to live under the law so
that we would be redeemed from the law.
The following verses help us understand this furtherÉ)
¥ Gal.
2:16
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith
in Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Christ Jesus, that
we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for
by the works of the law no flesh
shall be justified.
(Note that NO FLESH will be justified by keeping any part of the law. Justification comes by faith in Christ
ALONE.)
¥ Gal. 2:20-21
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer
I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ
died in vain.Ó
(Note that if one thinks righteousness comes by
obeying the law, one must also believe Christ died for nothing. This cannot be the fact. Christ died so that we could be saved
and spend eternity with Him if we would ONLY believe on Him.)
¥ Gal. 3:1-14
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that
you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly
portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun
in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if
indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to
you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith?— just as Abraham Òbelieved God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.Ó Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would
justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying,
ÒIn you all the nations shall be blessed.ÓSo then those who are
of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For
as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ÒCursed is everyone who
does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do
them.ÓBut that no
one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for Òthe just shall
live by faith.ÓYet
the law is not of faith, but Òthe
man who does them shall live by them.ÓChrist has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
become a curse for us (for it is
written, ÒCursed is everyone who hangs on a treeÓ), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon
the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith.
(Note that if anyone is trying to obtain the
promise of salvation by obeying the law, they are under a curse. If you are trying to obey one part of
the law, it is not good enough for salvation. One must obey ALL of the law to receive salvation apart from
Christ. Noone can or has done this
except for Jesus Christ. Christ
Òredeemed us from the curse of the law...Ó)
¥ Gal.
3:19-25
What
purpose then does the law serve? It
was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the
promise was made; and it was
appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God?
Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life,
truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined
all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to
those who believe. But
before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith
which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to
bring us to
Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are
no longer under a tutor.
(Note that since Christ died for our sins, we are
no longer under the law. Again,
justification is by faith.)
¥ Gal. 4:20-31
I desire to be present with you
now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt
of you. Tell me, ye that desire to
be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had
two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was
born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things
are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai,
which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount
Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now
is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of
us all. For it is written,
Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that
travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than shew which hath an husband. Now we,
brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the
flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the
bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children
of the bondwoman, but of the free.
(Note that we should not be bound by the law. We are free from the law. Our hope is in Christ, not in obeying
the law.)
¥ Gal.
5:1-6:2
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to