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The Sabbath Was Made For Man
Jesus made some very profound comments concerning the seventh day Sabbath, recorded in Matt. 12:1-9, Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5. Many claim that these passages prove in some way that the Sabbath is ours to "do with as we see fit". Lets examine these gospel accounts in context to understand what message Jesus might have been trying to convey.
It would be quite notable to mention at this point, that the Israelite scholars had produced volumes upon volumes of restrictions explaining and defining the laws. They had even written volumes explaining the volumes that had already been written. These "additions" that they had made to the laws, contained rules governing almost every conceivable scenario of law breaking, and are called the Mishnah. Jesus said; "...you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.", (Luke 11:46~NIV).
It was by these man-made laws that they accused Jesus and His disciples of breaking, not the laws of God. Christ was sure to rebuke their use of this faulty standard of the Pharisees doctrines and traditions, over that of Gods laws, (Mat. 15:3, 9, Mark 7:7-8). This is how Christ had addressed their man-made legalistic application; "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men...", (Mark 7:7-8).
The Pharisees challenged Jesus because He and the disciples were eating corn from the field on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were essentially accusing them of working on the Sabbath, by viewing their eating as harvesting. But, Christ and His disciples werent harvesting the field, nor filling His pockets to feast on later. They were simply eating, which is not unlawful.
The issue of breaking the Sabbath was a favorite accusation to Christ, by the Pharisees, (Matt. 12:1-8, 10-13, Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-4, Luke 6:1-5, 6-9, 13:14-16, 14:3-5, John 5:10-16, 7:19-23, 9:14-16). Sadly, the Pharisees are not alone in this accusation. Today, many Christians use these same passages as alleged evidence that Christ did break the Sabbath, and many Christians even maintain that this is evidence that Christ sinned.
Yet, where in the scriptures does it forbid the holy servants of God from "EATING" in a field on the Sabbath? And, if Jesus had broke the Sabbath, then why was He still called sinless years later, (Heb. 4:15, 2Cor. 5:21, 1John 3:5)?
In order for Jesus to have been sinless means that the Sabbath was not a law, because the gospel tells us; "sin is the transgression of the law", (1John 3:4). We know for a fact that the seventh day Sabbath WAS A LAW, (Exo. 20:8-11, Mat. 12:5). The question remains though; WAS IT STILL A LAW, when they were eating the corn?
Many have justified the view that Christ broke the Sabbath, (despite the fact that He had only broke mans law, not Gods), by claiming that; "Christ fulfilled the seventh day Sabbath and so there was no law". Since they feel there was no law, they maintain there was no sin. It is held by many, that Jesus work on Calvary somehow brought an end to the weekly Sabbath, along with the many ceremonial laws. There is much that could be said on that point alone, but we will limit it by keeping the issue in context of these passages. It should be clear, that even if the Sabbath became void in some manner, it would be irrelevant to this study. Simply because, this incident occurred long before Calvary, and Christs redemptive work there! Therefore, even if it became obsolete at the cross, that does not justify His actions before the cross!
So, we know that...
a. The Sabbath was a law at the time of this incident.
b. If one breaks the law, it is a sin.
c. Christ was sinless.
Therefore, Christ could not have been guilty of breaking the Sabbath!
Instead of our Lord responding to these legalistic challenges, He notably ignores the physical accusation of the law breaking and shows that even on a spiritual level He was not breaking the Sabbath. Jesus does this by notably comparing the actions of Himself and the disciples to the actions of David and his men, (1Sam. 21:1-6), thus having the authority of king, high priest, and being holy vessel.
This is very important concept throughout the New Testament as well as the Old, so please dont miss what Jesus is saying and showing us how He lived the law and was holy. Just like David and his men who were holy vessels, (1Sam 21:5) and ate of the hallowed shewbread. Christ was spirit filled and walked the law perfectly. Christ did not endorse men to break the letter or spirit of the seventh day Sabbath, by His example in the corn field. As already shown, He never actually broke Gods law to begin with, only mans law. Instead, He showed us that He walked the law perfectly, like the high priest, and the king that He is, (Mat. 21:5, Rev. 17:14, Heb. 8:1, 9:11).
This is the same thing He wants for us. Paul tells us that we should; "put on Christ", (Gal. 3:27). John tells us likewise; "every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.", (1John 2:29). The Lord wishes us to be His spirit filled, holy vessels, and high priests walking in His love and His law.
The Spirit enables us to do naturally, that which is found in the letter, and thus freeing us from the law, (Gal. 5:18). This is what Christ and His disciples, David and His men, and the priests were, they were Holy vessels free from the law. This is the point where the individual is so Spirit filled that they are walking perfectly in the will and Spirit of God, thus allowing them be perfect law keepers, and rendering them free from the law. This is the path that true faith will lead you.
The law is revealed in the Lords character, and we are to be like Him.
God is good Luke 18:19; law is good Rom.7:12
God is holy Isa. 5:16; law is holy Rom. 7:12
God is just Deu. 32:4; law is just Rom. 7:12
God is spiritual John 4:24; law is spiritual Rom. 7:14
God is perfect Mat. 5:48; law is perfect Psa. 19:7
God is love 1John 4:8; law is love Rom. 13:10
God is righteous Exo. 9:27; law is righteous Psa. 19:9
God is truth Deu. 32:4; law is truth Psa. 119:42,151
God is pure 1John 3:3; law is pure Psa. 19:8
God is unchangeable Mal. 3:6; law is unchangeable Mat. 5:18
God is eternal Gen. 21:33; law is eternal Psa. 111.7,8
There are other examples of men breaking the letter of the law, such as God leading His people to destroy wicked nations. Were they guilty of murder because God had them destroy the wicked? Of course not, they were Holy instruments led by God, perfectly aligned to His will.
No one accused the Priests, Rabbis of working on the Sabbath, but why not? That was their profession, so why dont people consider the command for not working on the Sabbath relevant for preachers? It is the same reason that Christ was illustrating for us! Doing Gods work, and will was always allowed on the Sabbath.
Continued below....
Jesus made some very profound comments concerning the seventh day Sabbath, recorded in Matt. 12:1-9, Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5. Many claim that these passages prove in some way that the Sabbath is ours to "do with as we see fit". Lets examine these gospel accounts in context to understand what message Jesus might have been trying to convey.
- Matt. 12:1-2 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
- Mark 2:23-24 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
- Luke 6:1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
It would be quite notable to mention at this point, that the Israelite scholars had produced volumes upon volumes of restrictions explaining and defining the laws. They had even written volumes explaining the volumes that had already been written. These "additions" that they had made to the laws, contained rules governing almost every conceivable scenario of law breaking, and are called the Mishnah. Jesus said; "...you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.", (Luke 11:46~NIV).
It was by these man-made laws that they accused Jesus and His disciples of breaking, not the laws of God. Christ was sure to rebuke their use of this faulty standard of the Pharisees doctrines and traditions, over that of Gods laws, (Mat. 15:3, 9, Mark 7:7-8). This is how Christ had addressed their man-made legalistic application; "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men...", (Mark 7:7-8).
The Pharisees challenged Jesus because He and the disciples were eating corn from the field on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were essentially accusing them of working on the Sabbath, by viewing their eating as harvesting. But, Christ and His disciples werent harvesting the field, nor filling His pockets to feast on later. They were simply eating, which is not unlawful.
The issue of breaking the Sabbath was a favorite accusation to Christ, by the Pharisees, (Matt. 12:1-8, 10-13, Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-4, Luke 6:1-5, 6-9, 13:14-16, 14:3-5, John 5:10-16, 7:19-23, 9:14-16). Sadly, the Pharisees are not alone in this accusation. Today, many Christians use these same passages as alleged evidence that Christ did break the Sabbath, and many Christians even maintain that this is evidence that Christ sinned.
Yet, where in the scriptures does it forbid the holy servants of God from "EATING" in a field on the Sabbath? And, if Jesus had broke the Sabbath, then why was He still called sinless years later, (Heb. 4:15, 2Cor. 5:21, 1John 3:5)?
In order for Jesus to have been sinless means that the Sabbath was not a law, because the gospel tells us; "sin is the transgression of the law", (1John 3:4). We know for a fact that the seventh day Sabbath WAS A LAW, (Exo. 20:8-11, Mat. 12:5). The question remains though; WAS IT STILL A LAW, when they were eating the corn?
Many have justified the view that Christ broke the Sabbath, (despite the fact that He had only broke mans law, not Gods), by claiming that; "Christ fulfilled the seventh day Sabbath and so there was no law". Since they feel there was no law, they maintain there was no sin. It is held by many, that Jesus work on Calvary somehow brought an end to the weekly Sabbath, along with the many ceremonial laws. There is much that could be said on that point alone, but we will limit it by keeping the issue in context of these passages. It should be clear, that even if the Sabbath became void in some manner, it would be irrelevant to this study. Simply because, this incident occurred long before Calvary, and Christs redemptive work there! Therefore, even if it became obsolete at the cross, that does not justify His actions before the cross!
So, we know that...
a. The Sabbath was a law at the time of this incident.
b. If one breaks the law, it is a sin.
c. Christ was sinless.
Therefore, Christ could not have been guilty of breaking the Sabbath!
- Matt. 12:3-4 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
- Mark 2:25-26 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
- Luke 6:3-4 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
Instead of our Lord responding to these legalistic challenges, He notably ignores the physical accusation of the law breaking and shows that even on a spiritual level He was not breaking the Sabbath. Jesus does this by notably comparing the actions of Himself and the disciples to the actions of David and his men, (1Sam. 21:1-6), thus having the authority of king, high priest, and being holy vessel.
This is very important concept throughout the New Testament as well as the Old, so please dont miss what Jesus is saying and showing us how He lived the law and was holy. Just like David and his men who were holy vessels, (1Sam 21:5) and ate of the hallowed shewbread. Christ was spirit filled and walked the law perfectly. Christ did not endorse men to break the letter or spirit of the seventh day Sabbath, by His example in the corn field. As already shown, He never actually broke Gods law to begin with, only mans law. Instead, He showed us that He walked the law perfectly, like the high priest, and the king that He is, (Mat. 21:5, Rev. 17:14, Heb. 8:1, 9:11).
This is the same thing He wants for us. Paul tells us that we should; "put on Christ", (Gal. 3:27). John tells us likewise; "every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.", (1John 2:29). The Lord wishes us to be His spirit filled, holy vessels, and high priests walking in His love and His law.
The Spirit enables us to do naturally, that which is found in the letter, and thus freeing us from the law, (Gal. 5:18). This is what Christ and His disciples, David and His men, and the priests were, they were Holy vessels free from the law. This is the point where the individual is so Spirit filled that they are walking perfectly in the will and Spirit of God, thus allowing them be perfect law keepers, and rendering them free from the law. This is the path that true faith will lead you.
The law is revealed in the Lords character, and we are to be like Him.
God is good Luke 18:19; law is good Rom.7:12
God is holy Isa. 5:16; law is holy Rom. 7:12
God is just Deu. 32:4; law is just Rom. 7:12
God is spiritual John 4:24; law is spiritual Rom. 7:14
God is perfect Mat. 5:48; law is perfect Psa. 19:7
God is love 1John 4:8; law is love Rom. 13:10
God is righteous Exo. 9:27; law is righteous Psa. 19:9
God is truth Deu. 32:4; law is truth Psa. 119:42,151
God is pure 1John 3:3; law is pure Psa. 19:8
God is unchangeable Mal. 3:6; law is unchangeable Mat. 5:18
God is eternal Gen. 21:33; law is eternal Psa. 111.7,8
There are other examples of men breaking the letter of the law, such as God leading His people to destroy wicked nations. Were they guilty of murder because God had them destroy the wicked? Of course not, they were Holy instruments led by God, perfectly aligned to His will.
No one accused the Priests, Rabbis of working on the Sabbath, but why not? That was their profession, so why dont people consider the command for not working on the Sabbath relevant for preachers? It is the same reason that Christ was illustrating for us! Doing Gods work, and will was always allowed on the Sabbath.
Continued below....
