New Testament study on the Sabbath part 1

This below is my New Testament study on the Sabbath. Please be open to the word of truth about Jehovah's unchangeable 10 Commandments which include the 4th commandment to keep the Sabbath day as Holy. Many today in  Christendom's puplits teach men to transgress God's law however they will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. Many sincere Christians don't keep the Sabbath out of ignorance which Jehovah winks at, however He now commands men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

Matthew 5:17-19 (KJV)

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus makes it clear in verse 17 that the Law (10 commandments) are not destroyed by him. They are fufilled rather by his revealing the true meaning and spirit of it's precepts. Verse 18, should be a clincher that we are still to keep the Moral Law (10 Commandments). Jesus in a crystal clear manner says, until Heaven and Earth pass away, that not one jot or tittle will in no way pass from the law (The Decalogue). As we know, Heaven and Earth have not passed away so therefore the Law and it's precepts are still in effect. This is talking about the 10 Commandments specifically not the ceremonial law of sacrifices or the civil law of the levitical preisthood. Furthermore in verse 19, Jesus warns all future teachers of God's word, that if they teach other's to break even the least of the 10 Commandments then they themselves will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Many Christians today call the sabbath the least of the commandments of God, even though it's listed as the 4th and it is said for us to remember it. For arguments sake, let's say the sabbath is the least of the 10. Jesus in verse 19 clearly says that even teaching other's that they don't have to keep the least of the 10 Commandments will be looled at as the least in his Kingdom.  Not only the Kingdom to come but also in his Kingdom now here on earth and in heaven. 

Notice that the 4th commandment of keeping the sabbath is right after the commandments in regards to how we worship Jehovah. The first two deal with idolatry and the third with taking his name in vain. These are instructions in how to and not to worship God. The Sabbath commandment which is right after these three instructions on how to worship God, give us another decree on the way we worship him. By keeping the seventh day, we are making a  clear distinction that we are worshipping the God of creation rather than creation itself as the first 2 commandments speak about. This is why it is essential to reject evolution because it denies the sanctity of the Hallowed Seventh day where God rested from his works. I believe in a literal 6 days of creation and the rest of Jehovah on the seventh day.   The seventh day is a sign and a mark of Jehovah creating this world and is a very essential part of his identity and distinction from false gods.

 Mark 2:27-28King James Version (KJV)

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Sabbath made for man, not man for the Sabbath. This is in no way abolish's the Sabbath as being the Lord's day but rather puts it into the proper perspective that it isn't about the nuanced legalistic approaches (pharisaical) to keeping this day unto the Lord but rather a day of resting in the Lord hence made for the man.  We keep from working, doing our daily pleasures and give our attention and devotion to Jehovah. Too many Christians are mindful about wordly things (the cares of this world) 24/7. Think how about how many Christians would have so much more peace if they rested on the Lord's day (The Sabbath). Jesus was rebuking the pharisees legalistic approach to the Sabbath not the actual Sabbath keeping. It's ironic how many Christians lament the removal of the 10 Commandments from public institutions but don't actually keep the 10 Commandments in practice by not resting on the Sabbath. Some Christians will then say "I work Monday - Friday Saturday is my day to take care of other things and enjoy entertainment and shopping. Or they will say "I have to work on Saturday,  my job requires it". Well you then are leaning on your own understanding and not trusting God. Jehovah will honor when you obey his Sabbath ordinance not your legalistic keeping of it but your spiritual keeping of it which is nurtured by not working and not involving yourself with the  daily activities of this world such as sporting events or entertainment. Gathering with the Saints and prayer and worship and studying will nurture your keeping of the Sabbath. We already devote so much time to the entertainment of this world and also work, that Jehovah is indeed worthy of one day solely set apart for him. What's wrong with that?  Is he not worthy of it? Are you not wanting the blessings that come with entering the Lord's day of rest? So many Christians are burned out from going to and fro and then wonder why they lack peace. Setting apart a whole day for the Lord where you worship, pray, study and gather with the Saints and without taking part in working or your pleasures such as hobbies or worldly entertainment such as sports and secular movies will drastically draw you closer to Jehovah.

Luke 6:1-11 (KJV)

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.

2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

3 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;

4 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?

5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Verse 1- By plucking the ears of corn Jesus and his disciples were not violating the Sabbath as they were not using a sickle but their hands (Deuteronomy 23:25).

Verse 2- The Pharisees by their man made traditions made the Law of God (The command to keep the Sabbath) of no effect. Their accusation that Jesus and his disciples were breaking the sabbath had no biblical support. Realizing this as Christians is important, so that we don't use this passage as an excuse not to keep the Sabbath day as Holy thinking Jesus and disciples were disregarding it. Deuteronomy 23:25 makes it clear that Jesus and his disciples were not violating the Sabbath day. 

Verse 3 and 4-Jesus brings to  remembrance to the Pharisees about David eating the shewbread which was hallowed,  if you read the passage of 1 Samuel 21 1:1-7 you will see that David and his men kept themselves from women or in David's words "women have been kept us".  David also said that the vessels of the young men were Holy. Many have read verse 3 and 4 and concluded that David and his men eating the shewbread was something that was done in haste and in a disregard for what was lawful. However reading the passage in 1 Samuel, you see that David and his men still had to meet the criteria of having clean vessels (no sexual relations for at least 3 days as David states). Also, David didn't just take the bread but the preist Ahimelech gave it to him after David confirmed him and his men's cleanliness. It's Highly unlikely that David would have took the bread without the Preist Ahimelech giving it to him. Reading Luke 6:3-4 without reading 1 Samuel 21 1:1-7 is a disservice to this text, because one can easily come to the conclusion that David disregarded the law of God for his temporal needs. As a righteous man, David still went through the preisthood to be granted permission for he and his men to eat the hallowed shewbread. Also, one cannot use the story of David and the shewbread to justify not keeping the sabbath. The Law of God including the Sabbath was still in effect before and after David and his men partook of the hallowed shewbread. Nothing changed pertaining to God's Law as a result of what David did in 1 Samuel 21 1:1-7. This is important to note because many use this story as an excuse that we still don't need to observe the sabbath. Jesus's point here, is that doing good on the sabbath unto the Lord supercedes the man made ordinances created by the religious. For example,  as we keep the Sabbath there may be times where an urgent situation arises that may call for you to do something you wouldn't normally do during your sabbath observance. Say someone calls you on the phone and ask you to go and buy them some medicine at a pharmacy because they are feeling very ill, would you not do this for them because of your sabbath observance of no selling or buying?  Of course as a loving child of God you would do as Ahimelech did with David and go and supply the urgent need of a loved one. Now, it would be up to your discernment as to whether the situation called for you to go outside your technical sabbath observance just as Ahimelech verified with, David that him and his men had kept themselves Holy by not going into women for at least three days. For example, you get a call from a worldly relative or friend that they are sick and throwing up. This was a result of drinking and partying the night before.  They need you to bring them medicine which means you need to go to the store to buy it. In this case, because their sickness is a result of their own sin and disobedience, I would not go outside my normal sabbath observance routine to buy medicine at a store. Remember, Ahimelech didn't flippantly give David the hallowed shewbread. He made sure David and his men had kept themselves Holy before handing over the shewbread to them. Remember, that satan knows you obey God's fourth commandment and he will use people to get you to disregard the sabbath. So, in doing your due diligence as a Christian, ask the person who calls you how they got sick and then determine whether you should go outside your normal sabbath keeping observance routine and buy them medicine. The person who calls doesn't necessarily have to be a Christian for you to love and do good to them but as long as their being sick isn't a result of sinful conduct. Be like Ahimelech and ask questions regarding the person's Holiness so to speak. Again, I must clarify that the person doesn't have to be a Christian but as long as they weren't doing anything sinful which led to their sickness. If it was an emergency type situation, then certainly God may be using you to take care of them even if the situation was a result of their sin. What I'm talking about above is more common type sicknesses.

Verse 5- Key verse here, Jesus stated here "That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." Lord=kurios (Greek) which means supreme in authority (supremacy)  God, Lord, master, owner, controller, master of the sabbath for example.

Jesus clearly states that he has authority over the sabbath. It's very important to note that Jesus never in this passage nullifies, does away with or discourages the keeping of the sabbath day which he is Lord of. His point in this whole passage was that he was Lord of the sabbath, meaning he had supremacy over it. Using David as an example, Jesus made it clear that doing righteous Godly works even in/on what is Holy supercedes man made ordinances that make the Law of God no effect. Reading the passage in 1 Samuel 21 1:1-7 illustrates that David eating the shewbread was not done flippantly and that Ahimelech the preist also made sure David and his men kept themselves Holy, before giving them the hallowed shewbread. Basically Jesus was telling the Pharisees that they missed the whole point of the sabbath which was a gift to us from Jehovah.  This gift is one of rest and undistracted worship of God which only benefits us. The Pharisees had made it a burden upon men whereas Jehovah made it to be a delight for us.

Jesus being the Lord and owner of the sabbath had the authority to do away with it and nullify it. However notice in this passage he never did such a thing but only rebuked the Pharisees man made ordinances pertaining to sabbath keeping. Jesus and his disciples also didn't violate the sabbath by plucking the ears of corn with their hands as they didn't use the sickle. Christians cannot use the excuse that Jesus violated the sabbath or that he did away with it in this passage as neither of those options took place here in Luke 6:1-5. Remember David was a type of Christ and just as Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. David as a royal representative of God's people at that time, just as Jesus is the Chruch's royal representative in our times, had authority to ask for the shewbread.  Even then, David had to state his cleanliness and Holiness before being given what, was hallowed.  Jesus our Lord is Holy by nature and essence being Jehovah,  so he didn't need to prove anything to the Pharisees but still gave them the 1 Samuel 21 1:1-7 story of the shewbread to prove his point of proper sabbath observance and what it truly is rather than burden filled man made dictates. This passage is about proper sabbath keeping not the doing away with or the advocating of violating it.

Verse 6- We see that Jesus taught on the Sabbath indicating that he kept the day as Holy as was the custom of the Jews.

Verse 7-11, It's important to note here that the religious leaders of Jesus time, the scribes and Pharisees were turning the sabbath into a burden on men's backs. Their hearts were far from God even though they were keeping the ordinances of the sabbath given by God and also keeping the man made ordinances that were added without God's permission. They were Itching to catch Jesus violating their man made ordinances of the sabbath. This shows that their heart was from God and that they didn't understand his purpose for the sabbath in the first place.  According to Isaiah 58:13-14, the sabbath was meant to be a delight for us but the religious leaders of Jesus day had turned it into a grevious burden with all their man made rules. Jesus knew their thoughts and proved to them, by calling forth the man with the withered hand for healing, that the sabbath was intended to be a delight for men/women and on top of that it was lawful to do good on the sabbath. These scribes and Pharisees were so blind and hard hearted, that while keeping the sabbath in deed they were actually violating it in heart. Jesus made it clear that it is lawful to save life and heal on the sabbath. Note that Jesus never once here rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for keeping the sabbath but rather their evil burden bearing on men practice of it. They turned what was Holy into just another set of man made rules and regulations. They used the 4th commandment as a tool to put men/women in bondage rather than encourage them to delight in what the Lord consecrated and sanctified. Just like today, religious leaders will turn what God intended as a blessing into a bondage for their flocks. Them doing this, doesn't nullify what scripture teaches and the need to obey God's commandments but rather we are to ignore these false religious leaders man made understanding of scripture. We are to be obedient to what the Bible says about a certain subject. 

The lesson to be learned here is that we are always to go with what scripture teaches rather than what man teaches.  Man's corruption of God's commandments doesn't nullify them but rather should redirect us back to the pure keeping of them as Jehovah intended. Some have used this passage to nullify sabbath keeping for the Christian, however nowhere in this text does Jesus abolish the 4th commandment.

Luke 23:50-56 (KJV)

50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

In verse 54, it says that these things were done by Joseph on the preparation day (Friday) before the Sabbath. This confirms that the followers of Christ kept the sabbath and if they did, which is gonna be confirmed again later in this passage, then that means Jesus never told them that the command to keep the seventh day was done away with. Certainly, something as important as whether keeping the sabbath was still valid would have been addressed by Jesus and we see here that his followers still kept it, meaning he (Jesus) must have never told them that the command to keep the Sabbath was done away with. The purpose of the preparation day was so that the Jews could rest on the Sabbath. The preparation day would be used for making sure they had food ready for sabbath and other duties so they could just enter the sweet rest of Jehovah. 

Verse 56- The women who came with Joseph returned to where they came from and prepared spices and ointments (the preparation day) and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

It doesn't get any more clearer than this. Jesus followers kept the sabbath day according to the commandment. This clarifies that Jesus never did away with it, either in recorded scripture or in his ministry to them that wasn't recorded in scripture. The burden of proof that we are not to keep the sabbath anymore is on the naysayers not the seventh day keepers.

John 5:1-18 (KJV)

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

 Jesus healed the lame man on the sabbath day again proving his own words that it is lawful to do good and heal on the sabbath. The Jews had distorted the sabbath so much that they accused the lame man of breaking the sabbath just by the fact he carried his bed. This was a false accusation that didn't have it's roots in Jehovah's original intention for the sabbath as a delight for men/women.  After inquiring of the healed man, they learned that Jesus had told the man to carry his bed after being healed. Jesus was in the temple when he told the healed man to sin no more as would be his custom of keeping the sabbath day.

The Jews who were there, were so filled with evil that they couldn't even praise Jehovah for the healing of the formerly lame man but actually sought to kill Jesus. This was all because Jesus allegedly violated the sabbath which was a false accusation. By healing the lame man, Jesus was actually honoring the sabbath day by doing good. He also told the man to sin no more. Doing good on the sabbath is lawful according to Jesus. Now, we don't use this as an excuse to do whatever we want on the sabbath and call it "good". When Jesus talks about it being lawful to do good on the sabbath it's in the context of helping people in their time of need, spiritually and/or physically.  By need physically, things like  sickness or even helping someone out who is stranded because their car broke down. This physical need is not to be used to violate the sabbath in the sense of work. For example, a friend or family member calls and "needs" help doing household chores or help coaching his son's football team that day, this type of physical "need" is something we don't participate in on the sabbath, as it is causing us and others to work thereby violating the creation ordinance of the sabbath rest day. By need, I mean someone who falls ill, needs a ride to the hospital, needs help finding their dog or child who is lost. Needs food taken to them as they are unable physically to get it for themselves. We always want to help those in spiritual need which can also be on the sabbath. What we don't do on the sabbath is work nor do we buy or sell publicly. We use this rest day to worship Jehovah and his Son Jesus Christ without distractions. We don't do our own pleasures on this day such as secular entertainment of any kind or engaging in any secular activity. Notice that Jesus was not violating the Sabbath in healing this man. This verse can in no way be used to nullify the command to keep the Sabbath Holy as Jesus didn't violate the rest day by the healing of the lame man. Jesus also, in response to the Jews in the passages after verse 18, didn't do away with the need to keep the sabbath. He simply spoke of the Father and the works which would be done by himself (Jesus) just as the Father does those things. His rebuke of the Jews here didn't include doing away with of the sabbath.

John 14:15-21King James Version (KJV)

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Verse 15- 16- Very direct and to the point. Jesus commandments are also that of the decalogue (10 Commandments). Jesus taught his disciples to obey the 10 Commandments in Matthew 5:17-28; 12:1-13;15:3-9; 22:37-40. If we keep his commandments then he will send us the Comforter so that he will abide with us forever. Jesus said "if" you love me you will keep his commandments inferring that if you don't keep, his commandments which include the sabbath then you don't love him. Again, the sabbath is never nullified here and is never made as an exception in regards to keeping the 10 Commandments.

Verse 21- Jesus restating that those who hath and keep his commandments (the 10 of the decalogue sabbath included) are the ones who love him. Jesus leaves no room for confusion here, you either keep his commandments proving that you love him or you don't keep his commandments proving that you don't love him with all your heart, mind and soul. Look at the second part of this verse. Jesus says that the person that loves him is the one who hath and keeps his commandments (Decalogue). This person will then also be loved by the Father. Jesus then says he himself will love us and manifest himself to us. The root of receiving Jesus and the Fathers love is in keeping their commandments, which there are 10, including the 4th which is keeping the sabbath holy. By not keeping the commandments of Jesus, we put ourself at risk of not receiving the Fathers love or of the Son's. We also are not loving God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart, mind and soul.