Jesus and the Sabbath

Exodus 20:8; Mark 2:23-28; Matthew 12:9-13

GOLDEN TEXT: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”—Psalm 118:24

JESUS, the antitypical Moses, did not abolish the Law of God given to the Israelites at Mt. Sinai. Instead, he fulfilled and magnified it. The Law said, “Thou shalt not kill,” and Jesus explained that for one to hate his brother would be a breaking of this commandment. So it was concerning the law of the sabbath. Jesus explained that this commandment was given for the benefit of man, rather than as an ordinance to increase man’s burden. That is why, as the Master explained, it was not a breaking of this commandment to render assistance on this day to those in need.

Our lesson furnishes two excellent examples of the Master’s wisdom in replying to his enemies by pointing out to them a rational interpretation of the sabbath law. Jesus’ disciples plucked handfuls of wheat and ate it as they were walking through a grainfield on the sabbath day. Those looking for something to criticize seized upon this as evidence that Jesus’ teaching and example were leading away from the Mosaic Law, hence harmful to the best interests of the Jewish people.

This criticism did not injure Jesus, nor interfere with his ministry, but it did afford an opportunity for the Master to set forth a practical lesson as to the meaning of the sabbath commandment; that the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. The truth, and the work of God that is undertaken upon the basis of the truth, cannot be injured by the criticism of those who oppose it. There is a comforting thought in this for those who labor in the Lord’s vineyard today. Now, even as in Jesus’ day, those who are active in the service of God, letting their light shine as brightly and widely as they can, are sure to be criticized. And even as it was in Jesus’ day, the antagonistic ones are often those who profess to be the people of God.

How simple, yet powerful, were the Lord’s illustrations of truth. The Pharisees would doubtless agree that it was proper to assist a dumb animal which had fallen into a ditch on the sabbath day, so Jesus asked them if a man was not of more value than a sleep. This was his way of answering their question as to whether or not it was lawful to heal the sick on the sabbath day. In view of this obvious truth Jesus explained that it was lawful to do good on the sabbath.

“Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath,” Jesus explained. (Mark 2:28) This, together with his assertions that the sabbath was made for man, and that it is lawful to do good on the, sabbath, presents an interesting viewpoint of the sabbath question. The sabbath is first mentioned in the Genesis account of creation, where we are told that God rested on the seventh day. Obviously God didn’t rest because he was tired; for he is never weary, the prophet tells us. (Isa. 40:28) But he did refrain from further creative work.

To understand the manner in which God rested on the seventh day it is necessary to remember that the creative days of Genesis are not 24-hour days, but long periods, or ages, of time. At the close of each of the six days the statement is recorded that the evening and the morning “were” or encompassed that day, the “evening” being the beginning, and the “morning” the close. But this assertion is not made concerning the seventh day. Doubtless the reason is that although there was an “evening” to the seventh day, the “morning” or close of the day did not occur in biblical times. This means that we are still in the seventh day, and that God is still resting from his creative work.

And it is not out of keeping with this that the Heavenly Father interests himself in his plan for the redemption and salvation of the race. His wisdom and strength guide and support all those who co-operate in his plan. He was very near to Jesus, to help in his every time of need. But all of this, according to Jesus’ interpretation of the sabbath law, has been quite in keeping therewith, for, as he explained, it is lawful to do good, to perform works of mercy, on the sabbath day.

So it has been that during the Heavenly Father’s long sabbath period, he has been actively engaged in a work of mercy for the fallen race, directing the outworking of his plan for the recovery of his human creation from the ditch of sin and death. Although our Golden Text applies particularly to the “day” of the Lord’s first advent, yet the period of Jesus’ second presence will also be a great day in the Lord’s plan, a day in which all mankind will be enlightened and blessed.

QUESTIONS:

In what sense did God rest on the seventh creative day?

In what way is Jesus the Lord of the sabbath?

What great work of mercy is wrought by the Creator during his rest day?

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