Sabbath Intentionality

A few weeks ago, I spoke on rest for the weary out of Matthew 11, where we needed to mimic Christ, and go to God with intentionality. I spoke that we needed to find a specific time that was just for our time with Christ, find a spot with no interruptions or distractions, specifically making the effort, and see it to completion. Should we not approach Sabbath rest the same way, with intention?

I was going to talk about Matthew 12:1-8 this evening, but Carl said he was going to be hungry, and going through that passage, would take quite a bit more time than we have this evening.

Instead, this evening, I want to talk to you about how important this was to God, and why it should still be important to us, and we still may hit on Matthew 12 real quick anyway. Sorry Carl.

The word Sabbath means “cease, rest, complete rest, or desist” and is found throughout the biblical texts. Forms of the word occur 104 times in the Old Testament. The idea of the Sabbath was setup with great intention by God. Genesis 2:1-3,

Genesis 2:1–3 ESV

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 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. 3 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.

Exodus 20:11 clarifies that the seventh day is meant to be the Sabbath day.

“11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and 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.”

The Sabbath day is characterized as a day that:

is holy and blessed

should be remembered and kept holy

belongs to the Lord

requires abstinence from work for all people (Jews and Gentiles alike) and animals.

The text also implies that God rested on the seventh day of creation, and therefore humankind should follow His example and rest on the seventh day.

If this was not an important to God, why would it have been listed in the 10 commandments only behind:

You shall have no other gods before me

You shall not make yourself carved images

You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain

Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.

4th…the Sabbath day is ranked 4th in the commandments given to the Israelites after they were taken out of slavery to Egypt.

We see more references to the Sabbath with the prophets, Isaiah 56:2 “2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.””

Ezekiel stresses that the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, Ezekiel 20:20 “20 and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’”

Between the Old and New Testaments, man got involved in what should and shouldn’t be done on the Sabbaths. The Damascus Document dating to around the first century BC limited activity on the Sabbath, such as:

walking farther than 1000 cubits or 500 yards

drawing water into any vessel

wearing perfume

opening a sealed vessel

The book of Jubilees during second century BC limited things even more

starting a fire

riding an animal

riding in a boat

making war

In the New Testament, the Sabbath is mentioned quite a bit as well, as Jesus teaches regarding Sabbath observance, and the various letters clarify the meaning behind Sabbath observance.

Jesus started his ministry, by entering the synagogue on the Sabbath and taught with authority, Mark 1:21, “21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.”

And in Mark 6:2 “2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?”

We see in Luke 4:16 that it was Jesus’ custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath. “16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.”

Jesus made sure to follow the customs outlined in the Old Testament. So now, we get to Matthew 12:1-12

Matthew 12:1–12 ESV

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

So, we have Jesus and his disciples traveling and eating, Jesus performing healings on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees were not happy about it and confronted Jesus about breaking the Sabbath law.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Gospels

Jesus responds that David was allowed to break the Sabbath when he ate bread in the House of God, and that the priests break the Sabbath rules every Sabbath by conducting the burnt and peace offerings. He also argues that anyone would save their animal if the animal was in danger. Jesus responds that because a person is of much greater value than an animal it is acceptable to do good deeds (i.e. healing) on the Sabbath.

Mark 2:27 says “27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

This brings 2 primary points into focus for us:

The Sabbath regulations, as interpreted by the Pharisees, had lost the intent of the Sabbath prescribed in the Old Testament. Therefore, the rules they observed were human made, not God made, and able to be broken.

The Sabbath proclaimed at creation was intended to serve mankind as a holy day, giving blessing, and observing God’s rest/restoration.

Nothing that Jesus or His disciples did were contrary to the purpose and intent of the Sabbath observance. Jesus was not rewriting the law, but fulfilling and clarifying the original law described in the Old Testament.

We also need to remember, that with Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have a new covenant, and no longer fall under the Mosaic covenant. Which is a good thing, since Exodus 31 tells us those that fail to observe the Sabbath shall be put to death.

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote in Colossians 2:16 “16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.”

Paul is not abolishing the Sabbath concept, but instating a lack of condemnation. He is also arguing against the idea that Sabbath observance plays a role in salvation.

Salvation is given by the grace given to us, by Jesus atoning for our sins. As Sabbath keepers, we keep the Sabbath to be obedient to God. We do not keep the Sabbath because it is law, but because of our love for our God. Jesus says in John 14:15, “15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

I am thankful for Jesus, who fulfilled all of the law perfectly. Who so graciously took my sins upon himself as He died on the cross. Who offers us salvation through His grace, and not dependent on my works. Where I can observe a day of rest with my heavenly Father as He did after His 6 days of creation.

We should give praise and thanks to God every day, but we should come with intention, to the Sabbath, because it was a gift given for man’s benefit. A day to rest. A day away from every day activities. A day to reflect on what God has given us. A day to give him all the praise and glory.