JESUS AND THE SABBATH (Part One)

/ Michael Battle

If I were in a public debate concerning the Sabbath, I would in no way attempt to discredit the Sabbath or the observance of it. Those who take this approach ought not to get involved in such a debate because you cannot discredit the Sabbath with scripture.

I would instead address Jesus’ interpretation of the Sabbath and pose the following question:

“If we are to observe the Sabbath, shouldn’t we also do the works which Christ did on the Sabbath? If we are to truly observe the Sabbath, shouldn’t we follow Christ’s example and do what He did on the Sabbath?

When the New Testament is surveyed we find the following:

• First, Jesus was condemned by the religious leaders as a Sabbath breaker.
• Secondly, Jesus never condemned anyone concerning the Sabbath.
• Thirdly, Jesus was actively working on the Sabbath meeting the needs of people.

I would also show how Christ is the true rest that the Sabbath foreshadowed using both the Old and New Testaments. The scriptures testify of Jesus and in Him is the true rest to which the Sabbath pointed.

Some may object, claiming that the New Testament doesn’t teach that Jesus is our Sabbath. Ahh, but it does. How? You may ask. Well, each of the feasts given to Israel was in and of itself a Sabbath in addition to the weekly Sabbath.

Consider the following:

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets (the festival of trumpets), an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. ~ Leviticus 23:23-25

Notice that the festival of Trumpets is called a Sabbath, and the Sabbath is repeatedly described as a time in which “Ye shall do no servile work therein.”

Also, Leviticus 23 refers to an eight day Sabbath following the feast of Tabernacles:

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: Ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: on the eight day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and Ye shall do no servile work therein. ~ Leviticus 23:34-36

If we are going to teach people to follow the teachings of scripture concerning the Sabbaths, then let’s go all the way. The feasts were ceremonial Sabbaths in addition to the weekly Sabbaths and lets describe them as such.

In the New Testament the apostle Paul says, “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” In Christ and in him alone, we have the rest foreshadowed in the Sabbaths: both in the weekly and ceremonial Sabbaths.

2 thoughts on “JESUS AND THE SABBATH (Part One)”

  1. There are several things that I would like to point out in your article here.

    Firstly:

    “Secondly, Jesus never condemned anyone concerning the Sabbath.” (From your article).

    Actually Jesus absolutely chastised the Jews for their use of the Sabbath. Luke 13:15-16 and Luke 14:1-6. In chapter 13 he openly chastised them for their hardness. Also in Luke 14 he asks the question, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” His ultimate answer is yes. He points out Deuteronomy 22:1-4 and shows that the law required them to do good to others, and if it fell on a Sabbath, they should still do good and help others. The problem was with their idea of Sabbath observance. Isaiah 42:21, pointing to Christ, says that “he will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” The people had made it dishonorable by the hardness of their hearts.

    Several times you said that the seventh day Sabbath is a shadow. Yet, in Hebrews 10, clearly referencing the 7 feast days, describes those annual feasts as “shadows of good things to come.” Hebrews 10:1. Those sabbaths were shadows. They were not a part of the decalogue, and the decalogue also was not a shadow. In fact, the New Covenant reveals that the law will be written in our heart, and also has been God’s plan throughout the Old Testament writings, i.e. Deut. 6:5-6 and chapter 11:18. If the whole of the Ten Commandments is a shadow, then I could agree with you, but I can’t see that it is. In fact, without the law there really is no basis for sin. The seventh day Sabbath therefore being a part of the decalogue can’t really be viewed as a shadow.

    The New Testament clearly defines what things were shadows, and the seventh-day Sabbath is not mentioned as such. In fact, Jesus points to the a future time in Matthew 24:20 when Sabbath, after the accession of Christ would still be in tact. Also, in Acts 15:21 during the that great conference, the people were content with Jame’s speech, and that each Sabbath the Gentiles would continue to hear the teachings of Moses.

    Being that the writings of the Old Testament, along with the life, death and resurrection of Christ which the disciples had witnessed, were what the disciples had in hand to share the gospel, we should consider that the writings of Moses were absolutely essential to the disciples in revealing to new believers the reality of Christ’s atoning works. Paul taught that the scriptures, which we call the Old Testament, were essential “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” And were profitable for many things. 2Tim. 3:16-17.

    What is really the difference between the New and Old Covenant? That is really the issue. Is it the decalogue? No! It is the fact that the blood of Jesus is better than sheep’s blood. Jesus is a better priest than a sinful man who needed atonement for himself. Jesus makes a better judge than man. Jesus ministers in a Heavenly sanctuary which is better than the earthly which was made by hands. Everything in the New Covenant is better because of the works that Jesus fulfills in replacing all the “shadows.” yes, of course we rest in him. But do you think that people in the Old Testament found their rest and salvation in the Sabbath? If perfect obedience in the Old Testament was necessary, perhaps no one in the Old Testament will be found in Heaven. Certainly not all, but many in the Old Testament rested in God who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

    Please forgive me if I have misjudged any of your statements.

    God bless you and use you for His glory.

    Tony

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