How do you "break" the Sabbath?

[humbledbyhim]

Actually, the Sabbath commandment was never given exclusively to the Jews:



Gentiles who lived in Israelite territory had to abide by many of the OT laws, many of them involving food (not eating blood or roadkill, for instance). Aliens in Israel also had to rest on the Day of Atonement. The OT says several times that the Gentiles among them were to be subject to the same laws as the Israelites and that they were also to be treated as native-born and loved as they loved themselves.

In the NT, the directives to avoid blood, food sacrificed to idols, the meat of strangled animals, and sexual immorality were given even to the Gentile Christians as a result of the Council of Jerusalem:



The Gentiles who were grafted into the olive tree (see Romans 11:17-24) still had to follow some of the supposed Jewish-only laws because they were not Jewish-only laws. They were not the laws that pointed forward to Jesus' death and resurrection, like sacrifices. They were also not the laws that would make it difficult for Gentiles to become Christians, like circumcision, which I imagine would have been quite painful for an adult and which was replaced by baptism as the outward sign of our entering into the new covenant. These were laws that people would have assumed would apply only to the Jews but which concerned actions that were particularly abhorrent to God, which was why even the aliens in the OT had to follow them.

The earliest Gentile Christians were like the OT aliens living in Israel in many ways. They were supposed to be loved and treated well but often were not. They were looked down upon by even the Jewish Christians, who still viewed themselves as more worthy of salvation than the Gentiles because they were the natural-born children of Abraham. They worshiped together in the Jewish synagogues, where, according to Acts 15, they heard the teachings of Moses every Sabbath. There never was a controversy over whether they should keep the Sabbath because they were doing that already. Like the commandments regarding worshiping other gods and killing and stealing, the Sabbath was not a commandment that anyone thought was only for the Jews. Disagreements arose over those things that particularly separated Jews from Gentiles, like circumcision and dietary issues.

The Sabbath never separated Jewish and Gentile Christians; it brought them together to worship God in spirit and in truth. While there may have been disputes over how to keep the Sabbath (just as there are today) because some of the Jews still clung to their unbiblical traditions, nowhere does the Bible record any arguing over what day was the Sabbath or even whether it should be kept. Christians who keep the Sabbath today (Jews and Gentiles alike) should keep it not according to Jewish tradition but according to the new covenant, which, contrary to popular opinion, does not set us free from the law; it sets us free from our sin and from man-made legalistic requirements and writes the true meaning of the law on our hearts. The true purpose of the Sabbath is to more fully love God and others as we fix our eyes on Jesus and on the grace that He has given us.

Here we go1) Love God with everything that you have, and (2) love your neighbor as yourself. These take care of the whole law. So, I do all that I can to keep these. I treat people right, and I don't forsake fellowship. I think it will be a long time before I don't have to work on weekends, and I don't think that it is the end of the world if we do. Commandments 1 and 2 above are how I will live my life and God's grace will cover any inconsistencies that I can't reconcile. Jesus said that if I loved him I would keep his commandments. Well, they're up above in italics.

 

[humbledbyhim]

Sabbath observance was a major point of contention between Jesus and the Pharisees, who kept it according to the OT restrictions. Jesus travelled, taught in the synaguoges, healed, harvested food, argued with the Pharisees, etc. on the sabbath day. Of course this also involved all those with whom he interacted. Jesus was actually doing the same things on the sabbath that he did any other day.

The sabbath was to be observed according the rules that were proscribed for their time and purpose. The commandment is stated differently in different places. It changes from "Thou Shalt", to, "Remember, and keep holy". Jesus clearly meant to remove the sabbath from the strict parameters of the old covenant, and update it for his time. The disciples and Jesus continued to observe the sabbath ritually as well, because the Levitical priesthood was still in authority. When it ended the old covenant dispensation ended, along with the manner in which those laws were to be observed.

But, from that time the sabbath has remained a point of contention in the church.

The sabbath was to be a 'delight', and not a burden. Observing 'the' sabbath day is still a ritual that can become burdensome, even for those with the best of intentions.

I did a word search of sabbath in the NT. Note the very last reference:

Colossians 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

This indicates to me, much freedom of expression in glorifying God on that day.

I like this post. I wish I had read it earlier. I woudl have simply reposted it.

 

[BereanWorkman]

The Sabbath was on a Saturday, and Sunday is the first day of the week

 

[MikeMcK]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place or if it's a duplicate thread, but anyway...
What is okay to do on Sunday and what isn't?

Now that Jesus has come, the Sabbath is no longer a day of the week, Saturday or Sunday, but it is Christ who has become our Sabbath and Christ who is our rest.

 

[Sophia7]

Here we go1) Love God with everything that you have, and (2) love your neighbor as yourself. These take care of the whole law. So, I do all that I can to keep these. I treat people right, and I don't forsake fellowship. I think it will be a long time before I don't have to work on weekends, and I don't think that it is the end of the world if we do. Commandments 1 and 2 above are how I will live my life and God's grace will cover any inconsistencies that I can't reconcile. Jesus said that if I loved him I would keep his commandments. Well, they're up above in italics.

In your previous post, you quoted this:

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

I don't see any sabbath requirements here in these verses. do you?

And I said this:

Do you see any mention in these verses of the commandments regarding having other gods or worshiping graven images or taking the Lord's name in vain? Should we thus begin doing those things? No, obviously Jesus was particularly emphasizing those commandments that deal with how we treat our neighbors (loving our neighbors as ourselves). He did not address in this passage the commandments regarding loving God. The Sabbath is included in the principle of loving the Lord our God with all our hearts and all our minds and all our souls. We keep the Sabbath out of love for God, in order to focus completely on Him for one day--without the distractions of work and other secular activities--not in order to be saved.

Now, if you agree (and you must if you are going to agree with Jesus here) that there are certain specific things that you should do to show love for your neighbor (and Jesus specifically mentions in the passage that you quoted the commandments regarding loving your neighbor), then why is it so hard for you to grasp the concept that God still has specific things that He wants us to do in our expression of love for Him (the first four commandments)? I don't hear anyone saying that we should worship other gods or take the Lord's name in vain or disrespect our parents or murder or commit adultery or covet (and Jesus didn't mention coveting here, so should we do it?). The Sabbath commandment is the only one that people say we should not still follow. So you agree with keeping the commandments when they conveniently fit in with all of your preconceived ideas, but if not, suddenly you reject specific applications of God's principles of loving Him. You can't have it both ways.

 

[tall73]

Here we go1) Love God with everything that you have, and (2) love your neighbor as yourself. These take care of the whole law. So, I do all that I can to keep these. I treat people right, and I don't forsake fellowship. I think it will be a long time before I don't have to work on weekends, and I don't think that it is the end of the world if we do. Commandments 1 and 2 above are how I will live my life and God's grace will cover any inconsistencies that I can't reconcile. Jesus said that if I loved him I would keep his commandments. Well, they're up above in italics.

So you begin by talking about the council decision of Acts 15, which spells it out, then fall back to a different position because you can't support your previous one?

The Acts 15 council decision was on a clear issue. Should the gentiles be required to keep the whole law of Moses.

They found that God accepted the gentiles, uncircumcised though they were, when the Spirit was poured out. So they recognized that the gentiles could stay gentiles.

Then they asked them to abide by the laws within the mosaic law that stated that they were for gentiles.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Now that Jesus has come, the Sabbath is no longer a day of the week, Saturday or Sunday, but it is Christ who has become our Sabbath and Christ who is our rest.

You are entirely correct. My post is intended for those that feel strongly that the literal sabbath day should be observed in some manner. This is fine and they will certainly learn good lessons from it.

To take your point one step further:

The first five commandments deal with our relationship with God, and are actually the outline of the marriage vows between Christ and the Bride. The sabbath of rest from labor is a great metaphor for the relief a betrothed bride would feel knowing that she is now going to be taken care of by her future husband, coming under his protection and provender. The joy, and relief, a woman feels when accepting the proposal would be second only to that felt at the wedding itself. (IMO of course.)

 

[tall73]

Sabbath observance was a major point of contention between Jesus and the Pharisees, who kept it according to the OT restrictions. Jesus travelled, taught in the synaguoges, healed, harvested food, argued with the Pharisees, etc. on the sabbath day. Of course this also involved all those with whom he interacted. Jesus was actually doing the same things on the sabbath that he did any other day.

He kept the commandment. He didn't follow the traditions of the Pharisees.

Jesus said that David and the priests were indeed guiltless of breaking the command. And so was He innocent :

MT 12:3 He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, `I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

Was Jesus doing away with the law, or showing them that they were wrong on the law? Notice below:

Mat 12:10 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.
Mat 12:11 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?
Mat 12:12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
Mat 12:13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.
Mat 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Jesus wasn’t violating the law. He was showing that they had distorted the law by their traditions, as they had with other things.

Joh 7:23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well?
Joh 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

 

[Arriving]

Now that Jesus has come, the Sabbath is no longer a day of the week, Saturday or Sunday, but it is Christ who has become our Sabbath and Christ who is our rest.

1st--Not that i disagree, but is there a scripture that supports that?
2nd--What exactly does that mean? What do we do for the sabbath if Christ is our sabbath?