Lord of the Sabbath

Intro

What is Sabbath, and how should we keep it? Am I violating the Sabbath? Does God Expect more from me on Sabbath? Should I be doing more? Should I be doing more worship? Should I be resting more? What day am i supposed to be Sabbathing?

Maybe you are not like me, and you have never questioned this. But maybe you are and had these questions go through your head as i consider what the Sabbath is. If it’s important to God, It should be important to me, and I want to do it correctly!

The Jews were also consumed with Sabbath keeping and doing it correctly. They would debate if you could carry a stick on the Sabbath. Could you pour a cup of water on the Sabbath? How far were you allowed to walk from your home before it would be considered working on the Sabbath?

But Jesus comes on the scene, in our passage today, and wants us to think about Sabbath differently. He comes to set humanity strait on following the Sabbath. Why? because he is Lord of the Sabbath. He has authority to say what the Sabbath is to be for humanity.

This passage before us today, does not come to us disconnected from the rest of Matthew. Remember last time we talked about Jesus coming to offer us rest. “Come to me all who are burdened and labored, and I will give you rest.”

What is the next story? Sabbath and how Jesus comes to give his followers rest.

Yoking to Jesus instead of being burdened with religious keeping like Sabbath keeping. If you are yoked to religious law keeping, the sabbath becomes fretting about doing it correctly and legalism. If you yoke to Jesus, you find rest in the Sabbath.

Sabbath becomes the pinnacle example par excellence for being yoked to Jesus.

MAIN POINT: Because Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, his followers observe it with grace under his authority.

Here’s my plan for today. This passage is about the Sabbath, but primarily Jesus’s authority over the Sabbath. But I realize we might have a lot of questions about Sabbath beyond what this one text says.

So we are going to work through this text, then we will take some time to reflect on how we as believers of Jesus today keep Sabbath.

I. Plucking of the Disciples v1-2

In the first two verses today, we see plucking of the disciples.

When we read verses one and two, we might wonder why the disciples are picking grain. Yes sabbath should be concerning, but aren’t they also stealing from someone else’s field?

Today, I can’t walk into my neighbors yard and grab a few blueberries from his bush. But in Jesus’s day, under the Old Testament law, boundaries were much more casual. Deut 23:25 actually makes a provision for people to go into their neighbors field, pick with their hand, and eat.

The problem that the pharisees have is not with theft, but rather with violating the Sabbath.

Harvesting was forbidden in Old Testament law, threshing, the process of removing the shell of the grain would have been forbidden.

-Jews took this Sabbathing very serious. Maccabees records enemies who would exploit their strict keeping of the Sabbath. Because the would not fight back on this specific day of the week, enemies would pick this day to attack. Maccabees says men, women, and children would be slaughtered.

The Pharisees would put up fences for the Sabbath to ensure it would not be violated. They would say, “Kay, if the line to cross is there, we are going to back up and stay far away from the line.”

We might wonder why? The Old Testament teaches us that Sabbath was very important to God. One of the main reasons that the Israelites are removed from the promised land and punished in captivity is because they violated the Sabbath laws. When Nehemiah is working to restore Jerusalem, he get’s concerned at the end of the book when it seems like peoples hearts have not changed. Here’s what he says:

Nehemiah 13:17–18 NET 2nd ed.

17 So I registered a complaint with the nobles of Judah, saying to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Isn’t this the way your ancestors acted, causing our God to bring on them and on this city all this misfortune? And now you are causing even more wrath on Israel, profaning the Sabbath like this!”

If Sabbath violation is so offensive to God, the Pharisees wanted to ensure it was kept to the fullest. Their intent was maybe in the right place, but their desire for purity led them into legalism like following Jesus around waiting for a Sabbath day violation.

II. Provision for David v3-4

Next, we see Provision for David.

Jesus answers the Pharisees legalistic concern with “Have you not read?”

This is a way of Jesus saying “I’ll beat you at your own game.” It’s a little jab that maybe they should have been reflecting on the scriptures instead of being captivated with their own thoughts.

And then He calls their attention to 1 Samul 21:1-6 where David violates temple law.

Jesus is showing that there are two contradicting scriptures. The temple bread was sacred and represented the very presence of God with people. 12 loaves were made weekly and replaced on the Sabbath. Only priests were permitted to eat these loves after 7 days, not by common people. But David eats it, and somehow, it is lawful.

Jesus is saying that David, in his authority, could take the bread in their time of need. So his disciples, under his authority, could take grain when they were in need. But Jesus is doing something bigger than defending the disciples actions on the Sabbath.

On the surface, David’s story seems like it doesn’t apply to the disciples case, and maybe even irrelevant.

This story of David eating stale bread is why we must know that what Jesus is saying here s bigger than the Sabbath law, it is a question of authority and who has the right to interpret the law?

III. Priests of Guiltlessness v5-6

Next, in verses 5-6, Jesus continues his answer to the Pharisees with the Priests of Guiltlessness.

Jesus then addresses the problem that priests work on the Sabbath.

By Old Testament law, priests have to do work on the Sabbath. In a way, they are violating and breaking the Sabbath every week by working and doing their job on the Sabbath.

But Jesus says they are guiltless.

Guiltless meaning that they are without blame, they cannot be blamed for violating the Sabbath. God doesn’t hold it against them.

What Jesus is beginning to show us is that the intent of the law is to serve God’s people, not for God’s people to serve the law.

God’s word is meant to be a blessing, a benefit, and an enablement so we flourish. It isn’t meant to be a burden for us. This is what Jesus comes to fix.

Then we see Jesus in verse 6 say “But I say to you” showing that he is a new and different kind of authority for the law.

He tells them something greater than the temple is here. Threatening the temple would have been unpardonable treason. It was symbol of being Jewish. It meant everything to them. How could Jesus declare he was greater than the temple?

Some things today offer to be better than what we have, and they sometimes disappoint. Remember when Beyond Meat started being a thing? Advertised as a great alternative, and as the name implies, beyond better? Well, I am skeptical. And what about the mushroom coffee? It claims to be better and taste just as good? I’m also skeptical of mushroom coffee.

The jews were sceptical of this claim that something would be better than the temple. But unlike Beyond Meat or Mushroom Coffee, Jesus does live up to what he claimed as he is better than the temple.

This is an odd thing to say. But keep in mind, Jesus is dealing with the authority issue of who has a right to say what is keeping the Sabbath

He isn’t playing their game of the nitty gritty details of the sabbath.

The focus for Jesus here is not who he is, but rather his role. Notice that Jesus doesn’t say “someone” is greater, he says “Something” is greater. In the original greek, this word is neuter, not masculine like we might expect. Jesus wants us to focus on his role, not his person here.

David’s authority of the office, and the necessity of the Levite work overruled the Sabbath and other people’s obligations to it. Jesus is not going to overrule their interpretation of the Sabbath laws.

Here it he key, if temple service allows for a suspension of the sabbath, how much more the presence of one greater than the temple?

IV. Prophets for Human Value v7-8

In verse 7, we see Prophets for Human Value.

Jesus has been drawing from different parts of the Old Testament to make his point. He started with the historical writings, then the Law, now he is going to make his third point from the Prophets quoting from Hosea 6:6 from the Septuagint Old Testament. “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.”

Jesus says if they would have understood what this means, they would have not condemned the guiltless. Jesus declares the disciples guiltless just like the priests of the temple were guiltless.

They aren’t guiltless because the disciples were hungry, but because something greater than Jesus is here.

Jesus again refers to himself as the Son of Man, and declares that he is Lord of the Sabbath.

Jesus is claiming to be Lord of something that God instituted and created. Something that God took very seriously. In the Old Testament, Sabbaths were God’s possession. He refers to them as “My Sabbaths.” But here, Jesus is claiming them as his own. He is on par, equal with God himself.

There is also a point here of what true followers of God focus their lives on. Servants of Jesus do not rush to condemn people. Servants of Jesus are compassionate and not quick to condemn people. There is certainly judgement that needs to happen, but our first response should be compassion and mercy.

Sabbath observing is wrapped up in mercy. Sabbath is not meant to be something that condemns the followers of God. It is meant to be God’s mercy to us. God knew we needed rest and worship recentering. He gave it to us in his grace because as the creator, he knew we needed it. It’s not meant to condemn us.

When I was brand new married, God gave me a job doing project management for a construction company. The owner would go win jobs, and i would manage them getting done. I would be the go between and coordinator for the different subcontractors, get materials onsite, and ensuring the work was going to be just what the client wanted. I hadn’t ever done project management before. I didn’t know what I was doing. I often made mistakes, and sometimes big mistakes.

There was once when I had to get a huge window that needed to go from the ground the the third floor of a home. It was kind of to big and heavy to get up three narrow flights of stairs. And me and this laborer were able to get it to the second story deck, then just needed to go one more flight of stairs. But it wouldn’t fit up the stairs. So we rigged a rope system to get to the opening on the third story. About halfway there, the bracing broke and very expensive window went crashing to the ground.

I probably deserved to be fired. I probably deserved to have a strong reprimand. It should have at least come out of my pay. But my boss didn’t do any of that.

The boss I had was compassionate and merciful always to me. He could have been wrapped up in business, and ensuring the project kept moving. Now this special order window would delay the project. He could have been consumed with the details of the project and figuring it out. But his first concern was me. He didn’t fire me. He would ask how he could help and come alongside me.

When we think of how merciful God is to us, even in giving us Sabbath rest, we should also show mercy to others.

What’s our first response when someone in our life steps out of line? When we see people sin, or not live up to the standards we have for someone.

Do we turn our nose up at them and do our hearts condemn them? Or is our first response mercy to them? Wanting to help them follow Jesus better?

There is another point here for us as well, Our hearts ought to be for human value. Some want to get wrapped up in debate, the arguments, the particulars. I have seen people and even myself been so caught up in belief that I forget about practice. Rather than pursuing a genuine relationship with Jesus, being consumed with my own thoughts about certain religious topics and how i think the world should be.

To follow Jesus, we must be a people who value what God values, and he values mercy for people.

V. Performing to show Authority v9-10, 13

Next, we see performing to show authority.

Jesus has supported himself with reasoning from the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings, but now he is going to put his authority on display as he heals the man with the withered hand.

For him to heal this man with the withered hand, God himself is going to have to be with Jesus, giving him authority over the Sabbath like he said.

The pharisees seem to know what Jesus was going to do. So they ask him if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath. This is not them searching for information and trying to learn. They are seeking to accuse him. This is the another shot into battle with Jesus.

Can you imagine being Jesus, where every action you do will be scrutinized and judged? No matter what you do, people are going to be angry with you.

Believe it or not, there are Jewish laws concerning healing. In the Mishnah, only if one’s life is in danger could you heal them on the sabbath. If someone was drowning, you could help them. If someone was going to bleed out, you could help them. But are your friend was stuck in a ditch, you would have to leave them. Have a physical problem you have dealt with for a long time? Well, you will have to wait till after Sabbath for healing.

But we see in verse 13 Jesus do what they thought was terrible. Healing on the Sabbath. This man wasn’t in critical condition or near death, but Jesus prioritized mercy over sacrifice and healed the man.

Imagine being the guy with the withered hand being healed. Thankful he had his hand healed but coming in mid conversation to this controversy. Regrettable, he is the the crossfire.

VI. Priorities of Life v11-12

This brings us to the next point, priorities of life, that we see in verse 11-12.

Jesus says if you have a sheep that falls in a pit, even on Sabbath, you will want to take them out of the pit and help the animal. This is the right thing to do.

The Talmud made allowance for rescuing a suffering animal, but not a human. Jesus is showing them that their own laws allowed for doing good on the Sabbath.

But how much more is a human life than a sheep? We ought to want to do good, even if on the Sabbath.

Jesus wants us to feel less restricted by the Sabbath, and more free to share the grace of God to those around us, even if on the Sabbath!

Yes, it is good for us to prioritize rest and worship on the Sabbath. But we should not feel limited and let our sabbath practices keep us from having compassion and helping people.

Practically, you might notice someone wasn’t at church on Sunday. It would be good for you to go out of your way to send a text and encourage them. Maybe even drop a baked good by their house.

If there is a family who is sick in our church, don’t let your religious rest keeping keep you from encouraging them by dropping something by their house like a meal or a baked good.

If someone is moving or asks for help on a project, I don’t think Jesus is pleased if we say “Nah, i have to keep my rest day.” Jesus would want you to help that person in mercy and love.

Jesus is reminding us that just like the law, Sabbath keeping is meant to be a help for humans. We receive Sabbath as God’s grace to us, and now we give grace and kindness to others.

VII. Protest of the Pharisees v14

Last today, we see protest of the Pharisees in verse 14. This healing and claiming to be Lord of the Sabbath pushed them over the edge. It was the last straw. They were no longer just looking to question, they wanted to destroy.

Destroy certainly could mean kill. And Sabbath breakers could be killed according to Old Testament law. But their real problem with Jesus is his authority to tell them how to practice and how to live.

Jesus wants the Pharisees to do good on the Sabbath, and not do evil like accusing others and thinking evil. For Jesus, failing to do good is evil. Not doing good things on the Sabbath would have been a greater sin than violating of the Sabbath.

But we all know, we have failed. Maybe not at Sabbath, but at doing good. In failing to do what we are supposed to, we do evil. Certainly all of us have judged others unkindly. We have been quick to be unkind instead of being gracious. But we know that Jesus comes to fulfill the law in a way that we could not. He comes to do good at every opportunity, even when we would have been still deciding what the right choice was.

Just like temple law shielded the priest from guilt, Jesus shields us, his disciples, from guilt.

Jesus take all of our evil doing and covers it with his own blood. He, who was perfect, suffered in our place to make us clean, no longer guilty. Because of him, we stand before God as clean.

Another point that gets greater fulfillment later on in the New Testament is that Jesus comes to be our Sabbath rest. We toil and labor and work trying to earn our salvation. Trying to be good. Trying to keep God’s law. Jesus comes to fulfill all that we could not. By attaching ourselves to him, we find rest that he has completed what we could not.

This is why his yoke is easy and his burden is light. We can learn from him, and now live after what he said.

Beyond the Walls: Sabbathing

Alright, We have some time still and I want to cover a bit of what it looks like to Sabbath.

This is how we will focus on living God’s truth beyond these walls.

I again return to the main point: Because Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, his followers observe it with grace under his authority.

You may have been asking if and how Christians today are supposed to keep Sabbath.

If you follow us on GroupMe, this was the most diverse we’ve been on a question so far. Most said Sabbath is about rest, some said worship, a few said we are longer bound by Sabbath because Jesus is our spiritual rest, and a few that said we are meant to Sabbath on Sunday following the resurrection.

My plan today is not to get into the nitty gritty details about Sabbath keeping. If you want, i can recommend some books on it. There are many different views.

What I want to do is think about Sabbathing in our lives, is what principles from the Bible guide our minds, hearts, actions in Sabbathing. We will briefly look at a biblical theology of Sabbath throughout the whole Bible. Here we go. I have 7 points on Sabbath, and i want you to find God’s grace in them, not legalism. My hope is that you will take what you are already doing and embrace God’s grace of Sabbath in your life.

God institutes Sabbath at Creation for all humanity. Gen 2:1-3

We might be tempted to think that Sabbath keeping is just part of Old Testament law and Christians don’t have to do anything with it anymore. But it comes before the Law. When God gives it as a command later in the law, he reminds them that humanity were already given it in creation.

In the same way that God instituted Marriage for all of humanity before the levitical law and it is still relevant for today, Sabbath is God instituted and still relevant for today.

We all know that the first time Sabbath is mentioned is in the days of creation. And we see God create the entire world, greater work that we will ever do, and then God takes the seventh day to rest from all his work. And sets that day a a part.

Some might be tempted to say “ah, i don’t need to take a day, I’m good. I can work through it. My personality loves to keep on.” In that, I might ask us if we are elevating ourselves above God to think we are better and don’t need to take a rest day?

2. Sabbath observance forever shows the distinct people of God, called out from the rest of the world. Exodus 31:13-17. Ezekiel 20:12. Isaiah 56:6. Jeremiah 17.

If God created us in his image, we ought to be careful to image God well by resting.

When God reiterates Sabbath as a gift to his people through the Law, he says that it is meant to be a sign forever between God and his people. Forever.

And it is not just for the people of Israel, it is for everyone, including the outcasts, the eunuchs, the foreigners. Sabbath keeping is a critical aspect of being God’s people, not just Israel.

Just like God in Genesis took one day and set it a part, he sanctified it, so he does this with his people. Ezekiel teaches this. By keeping Sabbath, you are putting on display God’s work of making you Holy by Jesus. Sabbath keeping is a reminder of our relationship to God.

I’m speaking from experience here, when you say no to your boss that you will not work 7 days in a row because of Jesus, you will stand out. For good and bad. From experience, this stand is unfavorable when deadlines and production is on the line.

Sabbath is more than just a “me day” of rest. It’s a remembrance who God is to us. Sabbath is a holy day for us to center our lives around God and our relationship with him. If you doubt this, or this is a new concept to you, go read the texts.

3. If violating the Sabbath is offensive to God, we find Joy in keeping it. Nehemiah 13, Isaiah 58.

We see through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Nehemiah that Sabbath violation is a major reason for God’s anger. We’ve talked about Nehemiah pleading at the end of the book that people keep the Sabbath because this is the reason God punished them in the first place.

Isaiah talks about how the people were upset and questioning why God is punishing them. They say “look at all the stuff we do for you, look at all of our fasting and sacrifice and worship.” And God says to them, you failed at Sabbaths. He said if you would have kept Sabbaths, you would experience joy in your relationship with God.

We might be tempted to see this as an Old Testament thing and no longer relevant for us.

But it is good for us to ask why. Why would God punish and devastate a nation for not keeping the Sabbath? Sabbath keeping must be important to him. While I am not waiting for a conquering people to ransack my home if I violate the Sabbath, I do want to value what God values.

Sabbath observance brings joy in your relationship with God. Again, go read the texts. If you are lacking joy, start with Sabbathing and reminding yourself of Christ weekly.

4. Jesus reiterates the Sabbath rather than annuls it and tells us that Sabbath was made for man. Mark 2:27.

Jesus reminds us that we are not meant to serve the law of Sabbath keeping, but rather ought to see it as a gift from God to our lives.

In God’s grace we embrace Sabbath as blessing to us. God has said Sabbath is best for humanity, i’m giving you a gift, and then we smack it out of his hand and say “Yeah, i’m going keep working.”

We might not be legally bound to Sabbath, but why reject God’s gift to us?

5. Sabbath points us to the already-not-yet rest that we find in Jesus. Hebrews 4. Matthew 11:28-12:14. 2 Thessalonians 1:7.

Hebrews 4 tells us that ultimate rest is only found in Jesus. Jesus has given us spiritual rest. But also, Sabbath is meant to be a sign that Jesus would give his people complete rest someday.

Keeping Sabbath is a reminder that we have rest in Jesus, and we will experience complete rest when he comes back for us someday.

When we Sabbath, we are forced to remember that our work means nothing apart from Christ and his finished work. I don’t labor for a relationship with God, I already rest in the relationship I have with him.

Sabbath, in a way, is like communion or baptism. It is a physical way to remind ourselves of a spiritual reality. Our Bodies are being forced to take part in a spiritual reality.

But Sabbath is also a reminder on weeks that I feel like I have had enough. Mentally, Spiritually, emotionally, that Jesus is going to come back and give us ultimate rest from all of the brokenness in the world. By Sabbathing once a week, we remind ourselves of this.

Sabbath is meant to be a weekly reminder of Hope for our lives that Jesus is coming back.

6. Sabbath shows dependence on God. Exodus 16.

Sabbath laws in the Old Testament show a great dependence upon God. This one is where the rubber meets the road. Sabbath keeping is not meant to be an easy thing. The best things don’t come easy right?

If I work 7 days a week, as many hours as I can, who is my financial stability dependent upon? Myself.

And not just finances. Maybe you say “If i don’t work every day, the work will not get done, we won’t meet orders or client expectations.” Who is your success or the company’s dependent on?

Or maybe this one “If i don’t do homework everyday, my grades will drop.” Who are your grades dependent on?

I know a guy, I've mentioned him before. He was a very good athlete. Broke school records for cross country. He told his coaches, I’m not participating in Sunday events. To be clear, i’m personally not against sports on Sunday. But this guy committed to 6 days of training and racing. But His coaches were angry. People thought he was crazy and he would never qualify. But he wanted to show that his athletic success was dependent upon God, not himself. He ended up qualifying for nations several times.

By you choosing to set aside a day to rest from these normal activities, you are declaring trust and dependence upon God to sustain your money, your success, and your academics, and your life.

7. Sabbath keeping lengthens your life. (Bonus)

The scriptures do not teach that If you keep sabbath, God rewards you with long life. I think it is the opposite. God has given you a gift, something he knew humanity needed, so take it.

Did you know there is a religion that the average life span is 10 years more than the normal American?

Any guesses?

Seventh Day Adventists. There are a few contributing factors, but one of the main ones is their strict observance of the Sabbath. To be clear, being Christian lengthens your life a little more than the average American, but Sabbath keeping Christians get a significant amount of extra years. Sabbath observance makes people communal, and causes them to have better physiological and psychological health.

You taking Sabbath not only affects your spiritual heart, but also your physical one.

Matthew 6 reminds us that we don’t worry about adding one more hour to our lives, so we aren’t trying to lengthen our lives. But we know that keeping Sabbath is best for humanity.

PRACTICAL:

I don’t want to in legalism say what you should and shouldn’t do for Sabbath. I personally don’t think Sabbath has to be the same day and kept the same way by all people. So take these with a grain of salt.

But once a week, resting from normal activities, and recentering your life as a Child of God.

You should take regular breaks, weekly breaks from the daily grind of your life. But what the daily grind is for all of us is different. It might be school, it might be work, it might be chores.

You might say “I can’t take a break from chores!”

Yes, you may not be able to drop everything, but you can work towards having a better full day of rest from the daily grind.

Pretend that Sunday is your sabbath. You might make it a general practice not to be out crazy late Saturday night so that you can get ready for rest and worship on Sunday. You might pick out the kids cloths Saturday night. Get all the shoes by the door. Get breakfast ready. Do some meal prep the day before. Empty the dishwasher Saturday night so that you can fill it all Sabbath long and not wash a dish. So that when you wake up on Sunday, you can enjoy rest together, and spend more time reflecting on God’s grace to us.

You might say “I have all of this work to do! I can’t take a day off!”

there is no excuse you will have that an Israelite didn’t make to God.

You can eliminate certain things in your life so you can catch up, get everything done, so that you can take a rest day.

Whatever you are normally doing for 6 days, your sabbath should look different. If you check the stock market to see your investments everyday, Sabbath would be a day that you don’t do that and remember that all that you have and need comes from God. Your ultimate rest and security is found in Jesus.

What about our phones? If you are consumed with your phone. We would never say consumed right? If you are on social media for a lot of hours everyday, sabbath is a great way to stop the daily grind of technology, giving your mind time to rest and be with God.

Trevor: “If you are fretting about violating the Sabbath, you’re doing it wrong.”

Erika: “If Sabbath is convenient for you, you’re doing it wrong.”

This week, spend time reflecting on Sabbath and what God might be calling you to. Embrace Sabbath as God’s gracious gift to you to rest and be holy.