Sabbath Rest

Let me ask you a question — by the way I am asking this question on behalf of a friend — is it wrong to mow the lawn on Sunday?

This is the question that was running through my mind last Sunday afternoon as I was pushing my lawn mower through my overgrown lawn. (No, this picture is neither my lawn nor my lawn mower — I didn’t think to take a picture of it at the time). It never occurred to me that I needed to ask someone to mow my lawn while I was on vacation in April. I mean, lawn mowing is supposed to start in May not April.

When I returned home from Texas (where they just might have to mow their lawn year-round) my grass was so high I considered letting someone's cattle or goats graze in it! So, on the day after returning from Texas, when I got home from the office, I changed my clothes and went to work on the lawn. First I had to remove a few large tree branches that had fallen, and then I had to hope and pray that the lawn mower would start. I began my mowing with the front yard, and after mowing my ditch I was about ready to quit for the day. But I persevered until the lawn mower ran out of gas (and if I remember correctly, the rain was about to start). The next day, last Saturday, I went back outside and mowed once again until the gas ran out of the mower. By that time I had put in two hours of mowing and was only halfway finished. Having looked at the weather report for the coming week on Sunday, I decided to go back out and do some more mowing in the afternoon. Once again, I mowed until the mower ran out of gas; but this time I tried to start it again and keep going. My mower informed me that it was taking the rest of the day off as a Sabbath Rest! It had been working so hard to make it through that high grass that it just didn’t want to start again. So, I had to wait until Monday afternoon to finish the lawn. This time the mower actually lasted for an hour and a half, and then it started to rain just after I finished it. My Apple Watch told me that I was getting a lot of good exercise pushing that mower. My body was telling me completely different tail!

Anyway, as I was mowing I was wrestling with if it is even appropriate for a Christian to mow the lawn on a Sunday. After all, Sunday is the Christian Sabbath. Thinking about this led me to a text which doesn’t answer that specific question, but it does speak about Sabbath Rest. Please turn in your Bible to Hebrews 3 as we look at what the unknown author of this epistle has to say about Sabbath Rest.

Why is it important to consider the OT concept of resting on the Sabbath? Well, first of all, God instituted it for the sake of man.

Genesis 2:2–3 ESV

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Secondly, God commanded the people of Israel to observe the Sabbath rest.

Exodus 20:8–11 ESV

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

It is not like God was weary from His labor and needed to rest. But He understood that man would need periodic rest in order to rejuvenate his body and spirit.

However, the Jewish scholars during the days in which Jesus walked on this earth had taken the Sabbath regulations and added an extra heavy weight to them for people to follow. The initial reason why the religious elite of Israel opposed Jesus was that He was healing people on the Sabbath. They considered that this was breaking the commandment of God. However, Jesus argued that God allowed for the people of Israel to do good on the Sabbath, and what was a greater good work than to heal the sick. Jesus made this remarkable statement:

Mark 2:27 ESV

And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

All this being said, I do believe there are some among us who would benefit by observing a Sabbath every week. Some work almost everyday, and take no time for rest and rejuvenation. Of course, there are others who probably take too much time for rest and don’t work hard enough. These issues are between a person and God. But as my former Cardiologist once told me, it is important for our bodies to take a regular Sabbath.

Our text for today really has nothing to do with my question about mowing the lawn on Sunday. It focuses on how true Sabbath Rest is found only in having a right relationship to Christ.

Our text for today is very lengthy, so we will not read every verse, but look at them as we come to them.

Let’s begin by looking at the importance of

Hearing God’s Voice

Notice first that

We Find our Sabbath Rest by Listening to God’s Word

Look at verse 7.

Hebrews 3:7 ESV

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,

Years ago while I was attending a seminar on expository preaching the instructor gave us a list of questions to ask about every text we are preaching on. Someday I need to see if I can find that list of questions. I do remember one question being, what doctrine or doctrines does this passage teach. Right away in this text we are confronted with the doctrine of the Word — bibliology as it is referred to by theologians. I think I have mentioned before that the writer of Hebrews doesn’t like to mention the names of the human authors of the passages which he alludes to or quotes. He much prefers to give all the credit to where the credit is due — to the Holy Spirit who is the true author of every word in the Bible. That is what it means when Paul wrote that all Scripture is inspired by God — literally breathed out by God.

Why is the doctrine of the Word of God important to us? It is important because we need to be able to depend on the fact that this book which we hold in our hands truly is God’s Word. And if it is God’s Word then we need to not only embrace it, but live it out in our lives.

The author then goes on to quote from Psalm 95.

The question to ask of this verse is, how do we hear the voice of God? Does God speak to us out loud today? You might think that He does by the way people speak. For instance, have you ever heard a person say “God told me to do such and such?” My response to that statement is, how did God tell you that? While in times past God spoke directly to prophets who then communicated His Word to His desired audience, He now communicates with us through the written Word. When John penned the last words of Revelation God’s direct revelation was completed. And like when He finished His work of creation, He rested from it, so, when He finished His work of direct revelation He rested from that as well.

So, if God does not speak audibly with us today, then how are we to hear His voice? We “hear” it when we read His Word. We are to be hearers (or readers) of God’s Word.

Note that,

God’s Word is our Only Rule & Guide for Living the Christian Life in a Worthy Manner

What else did the Holy Spirit have to say through the psalmist? Look at verses 7-11.

Hebrews 3:7–11 ESV

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ”

The author will explain later on in this text that this psalmist is looking back to the people whom Moses led out of Egypt. They had seen God’s power on display through the ten plagues which God poured out on Egypt and its panoply of gods (which were not gods at all). They had seen God part the waters of the Red Sea so they could cross on dry land. They had seen the Shekinah glory of God in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night which led them on their journey. But when ten of the twelve spies brought back a bad report of the Promised Land, the people shrunk back in fear of the giants that were in the land, and refused to enter. They hardened themselves to God’s voice.

Note that,

We Should Guard Against Hardening our Hearts to God’s Word

Look at verses 12-15.

Hebrews 3:12–15 ESV

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

We need to define who it is that the author is calling “brothers.” First of all, it is not just men, it includes women as well. When I was younger that did not need explaining, but in today’s society it does.

Some scholars think it refers to the author’s Jewish audience in general and not believers in specific. Others think that it refers to believers specifically. This is really difficult to determine. Usually in the NT epistles the term “brothers” refers to believers in Christ. But this book was written by a Jew to fellow Jews, and so it could be that the author is referring to those who share his Jewish heritage.

It seems that in the author’s original audience there were three classifications of people. First, there were Jewish believers — what we call today Messianic Jews. Second, there where those who those who might be described as tares among the wheat. They were a part of the congregation, but they had never truly embraced Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Third, in today’s terminology, there were those who were seekers. They were still riding on the fence as to whether Jesus was their Messiah or not.

The terms “unbelieving heart” and “fall away” in verse 12 would seem to indicate that the author is addressing unbelievers since it is impossible fore believers to fall away — that is, to leave the faith. Once we are in Christ, we are there to stay.

Look at verse 13 in the NASB.

Hebrews 3:13 NASB 95

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

This takes me back to when Gail and I were newlyweds. On our honeymoon we moved to Waterbury, Connecticut, were I began a position with the Calvary Baptist Church of Waterbury as their Minister of Music. Gail and I had these special pens made for our church choir and inscribed on these pens was the phrase “But encourage one another day after day.”

The word translated “encourage” in the NASB, is translated “exhort” in the ESV. And of course, the Greek term has both ideas. For those who are still riding on the fence about whether to embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we need to be exhorting them to do so. For those who are believers, but they are struggling with their faith, we need to encourage them to persevere.

In verse 14 we come to another doctrine which is taught in our text — the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Look again at verse 14.

Hebrews 3:14 ESV

For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Those who do not continue in the faith (confidence in our text) to the end are not true believers. Sometimes we water down the demands of the gospel by giving the idea that as long as a person says “the magic words” — you know, the repeat after me — they are saved for all eternity. It doesn’t matter if they connect themselves with a local assembly of believers. It doesn't matter if they bear any fruit. Just as long as they say the magic words. But that is not what the whole counsel of Scripture teaches.

Jesus taught that His followers will bear fruit. He also taught that not all who call Him Lord are His people. In the parable of the seed and the sower He taught that some who respond to the gospel will wither away because they had not fully embraced the truth — they were never truly believers in Christ.

Let’s move on to consider the importance of

Obeying God’s Voice

Look at verses 16-19.

Hebrews 3:16–19 ESV

For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Note that,

We Find our Sabbath Rest by Obeying God’s Word

God has issued an eternal call for all people to repent and believe the gospel. That is the first step in our walk with Christ. Without that beginning step there is no further journey with Christ.

Note that,

There Must be Faith in Order to Receive God’s Saving Grace

But as believers we too need to continue to listen to and obey God’s Word. As James pointed out

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

The writer of Hebrews will come back to this thought in chapter 11 when he says that without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

Look at chapter 4 verses 1-2.

Hebrews 4:1–2 ESV

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

The generation of people who perished in the wilderness had constantly heard God’s Word, but they did not internalize His Word through faith. And so, they rebelled and angered God, and ultimately perished in the wilderness. Only four adult males from the original congregation were permitted to cross into the Promised Land: Joshua, Caleb, and two of the sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar.

God will always leave a remnant, no matter how small, for Himself. And these four men were the remnant from that generation.

Note that,

Only True Believers in Jesus Christ Enter into the Sabbath Rest of Christ

Look at the first part of verse 3.

Hebrews 4:3 ESV

For we who have believed enter that rest ...

While the majority of those here today are true believers in Jesus Christ, it is possible that some have never truly embraced Jesus as their Savior. If that be the case for you, it remains for you to repent and believe the gospel and enter into the Sabbath rest of Christ. Look at verses 6-7.

Hebrews 4:6–7 ESV

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

The word “today” indicates the urgency of responding to the message of the gospel. You do not know when your life end. But after you have taken your final breath it will be too late to respond. And Scripture seems to indicate that there is a season in which a person can respond to the gospel, but once thy have passed that season, there will no longer be an opportunity for them to respond.

Are you “hearing” the call of God to repent and believe the gospel? If you are then you dare not leave this place until you have settled accounts with God. Acknowledge the truth that you are accountable to God for your sin, and in need of forgiveness. Acknowledge that Jesus is God in the flesh who died for your sins, and was buried and rose again on the third day. Call upon the Lord and He will save you.

Look at verses 9-10.

Hebrews 4:9–10 ESV

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

What are the works from which we rest? Possibly it is our attempts to earn God’s favor by our own good deeds. In other words, we rest from our own work and rest in the work of Christ. There is possibly a futuristic aspect in view here. John wrote in

Revelation 14:13 ESV

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

The writer of Hebrews has another exhortation for those who are still on the fence about Christ. Look at verse 11-13.

Hebrews 4:11–13 ESV

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The exhortation is to strive to enter Christ’s rest. The Word of God is what the Holy Spirit uses to convict us of our sin and our need of a Savior. William R. Newell wrote this verse:

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned

Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,

Till my guilty soul imploring turned

To Calvary.

Mercy there was great and grace was free,

Pardon there was multiplied to me,

There my burdened soul found liberty

At Calvary.

My brothers and sisters, have you entered into the rest which God has provided in Christ Jesus? If so, I encourage you to stay in God’s Word, feast on God’s Word, and live God’s Word.

If you have not entered into this rest, I invite you to do so without delay.

Let’s pray.

Holy Father,

I thank You for Your Word, for through You Word we learn of You and Your ways. As the song write said, it is through Your Word that we learned about our sin, and about the remedy for our sin.

Father, I pray that You would help us to be an encouragement to one another as we walk this narrow road of faith.

Father, I pray for any hearing this message who are not believers in Jesus Christ, I pray that they would not only hear Your voice this day, but that they would obey Your voice this day by repenting and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Closing Song: #503

Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting

Jesus, I am resting, resting

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Thou has bid me gaze upon Thee,

And Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by They transforming power,

Thou has made me whole.

Jesus, I am resting, resting

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Communion

So, how does all this relate to Communion? Well, since this text is ultimately about Jesus it relates to Communion — after all, we are to remember Him as we partake of this Ordinance. Paul wrote,

1 Corinthians 11:23–30 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

Our text for today calls for us to examine ourselves. Only those who have found their Sabbath rest in Christ can partake in a worthy manner.

Let’s give thanks for the bread.

Dear Lord Jesus,

We thank You for Your willingness to suffer such shame and agony for our sake. We thank You for taking joy in our salvation. We remember You in Your life, in Your death, and in Your resurrection. Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

In Your precious name. Amen.

1 Corinthians 11:24 ESV

and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Let’s eat this bread in remembrance of Him.

Let’s give thanks for the cup.

Holy Father,

We thank You for this cup of blessing, for You have blessed so richly in the heavenly places in Christ. And this cup of blessing has also become the cup of remembrance as we remember You, Lord Jesus. Thanks You.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let’s drink this cup in remembrance of Him.

1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Let’s stand together and sing acapella the first verse of the old hymn

Blest Be the Tie that Binds

Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like to that above.