Sabbath or Not?
Notes
Transcript
Intro
We struggle with rest. Come home exhausted. Weekends full of activities. Have no idea how to do it. Everyone has their own definition.
Need: We don’t believe we are allowed to Sabbath. Two reasons: other people aren’t or we haven’t done enough to warrant rest. By giving standards for rest, we are trying to define rest on our own terms.
Main Idea: Jesus decides what the Sabbath is for.
What is the Sabbath? Rest. Friday evening to Saturday evening. No work on this day. Fourth commandment. Seventh day. God rested. He didn’t need to rest, but the command was given to people who just left slavery. They never rested. The idea of Sabbath is different for us and the Jews. Our day begins by going to work. Their day begins in the evening. Work from their rest. Why Sabbath?
Protect from idolizing work. Work can replace God. Become your identity. You are not what you do.
Declare dependance on God. God takes care of you when you rest. The world keeps spinning.
Struggle: What is considered work? Over centuries, they compiled things that they considered “work” and gave them authority. Normal things: Plowing, hunting, building. Not normal: Picking up your children, sewing a stitch, writing a letter. Applicable at times, but not authoritative. Breaking the Sabbath required death penalty.
Jerusalem. Elevators.
Luke 6:1-11
Why?: Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (1-5)
Exp. Jesus and his disciples are walking through the field and are going to eat. Very much legal. Law forced field owners to put food on the edges so the poor could eat. That wasn’t the problem. They were being spied on and since they rubbed the grain in their hands, it was considered work. Verse 2. They’re just eating. Seems that keeping Sabbath regulations is more important than the needs of people. Jesus responds. Verse 3-4. Jesus quotes OT. On the run from Saul. Ate bread of presence only for the priests. Told priest Saul sent him. Priests gave it to him. Not on Sabbath, but still wrong.
Ill. This is not like student asking for an extension. Me saying no, and they say, well you gave such and such extension!
Arg. He’s not comparing the sin of himself and David. He is saying, “If the priests could bend the Law for the authority of Saul, how much more authority do I have over the law?” Verse 5. What does he mean?
He created the Sabbath.
He knows the Sabbath. He can’t be tricked.
He gives the Sabbath. Mark 2:27
27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Christ - Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath because he created it. Come to me, I will give you rest. Rest from sin.
App. What do we do?
Avoid legalism. We don’t create new rules.
Worship God. Enjoy the gift of rest he gives.
Rest. Find a 24 hour time and don’t work. “We rest. We play. Don’t work.”
What?: The Sabbath gives life (6-11)
Exp. Synagogue. Teaching. Verses 6-7. They wanted to see if he would heal! So they would accuse him. “Healing is work.” Imagine waiting for someone to do something good so you could accuse them.
Ill. At first, I stood against the Lake Tomahawk idea. I grew up thinking you can’t do stuff on Sundays! Especially during church.
Exp. Jesus knows their thoughts. Verse 8. He knew why they were there. Exception to Sabbath “rules” to help someone in life-threatening emergency. Withered hand was not one. Verse 9. What is he getting at?
Knowing you can do good and not doing it is wrong. Jesus’ question implies it is also harmful. James 4:17
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
The second question: The Pharisees were actively trying to destroy Jesus’ life.
Exp. Jesus provokes them. Verse 10-11. When this man woke up, he didn’t expect this! Imagine being so hard hearted, you’re angry because someone was healed. And you were mad that it was on a certain day. Did the healing of this man make the Sabbath unholy? No! Jesus intended the Sabbath to be for this.
Christ - Jesus intended for the Sabbath to be a time of healing. Healing physically, but healing mentally and spiritually.
App. What do we do?
Rest daily. Rest to work, not work to rest.
Do what is good. Step into what you know is necessary.
Conclusion
Sit in silence. Practice rest daily. Practice resting your mind, body, and soul.
