Keeping the Sabbath

The Sabbath and the Law

by Rev. John R. Greene

Of late there is much discussion of the sabbath. There are those who flat out say that unless you keep the sabbath you are disobeying God. They will even declare that they are being blessed as they keep the sabbath using the implication that those who don't keep the sabbath are not being blessed or are at least missing a blessing by not keeping it. The other extreme comes from those who state that Sunday is the NEW sabbath and that's the day to attend church. The debate has been raging for a long time and to be honest, I'll probably not answer all the questions adequately for both sides.

In taking a look at the rich young ruler we'll discover some clear points that Jesus had made to him that we casually miss. Mr 10:17-18 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. The young man wanted information about eternal life, but he is coming from a wrong perspective as he is looking at good + life = eternal life(reward). If he has completed and done enough good things, he should be rewarded with eternal life. He therefore wants Jesus to place a stamp of approval on him and let him go on his way doing what he wants.

Jesus looks at this man's perspective and directs him into a thought about his claim of "good" and teacher in referring to Jesus! God IS true goodness, and to state that Jesus is "good" either made the young man a person of pure rhetoric (today's words might be: he was kissing butt.) or he was mis-applying Jesus as "teacher" and NOT God Himself.

The situation begins in tenseness on the young man's side, and Jesus corrects him bringing to focus what He saw in the situation, a chance to teach all who were in ear's distance as well as the young man about eternal life.

Any person born in this time and from Israel knew that works were the way to God. The Law was works ordained by God for all those who came to Him by faith and did those works: the sacrifices for the burnt offering (Lev 1), the grain offering (Lev 2), the peace offering (Lev 3), the sin offering (Lev 4), the trespass offering (Lev 5), and their individual laws of those offerings (Lev 6-7). These sacrifices were ordained in the Mosaic covenant and instituted following the completion of the tabernacle of meeting in Ex 40. This covenant began in Ex 19 when the Lord called Moses. In Ex 20 God gives the 10 Commandments, one which deals with the Sabbath.

This covenant, the Mosaic covenant, was given to Moses for God's people, the Jew for all time. It is this covenant that Jesus is about to discuss with young ruler who trusted in works knowing in his mind that he was a good guy and did good things. Mr 10:19 "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'" Jesus reminds him of 6 commandments. Have you ever asked why 6? Have you ever consider which 6 these are when compared to those left out? Most miss this amazing point! The 4 left out deal with the relationship with God, these six deal with the relationship with man. There are two kinds of relationships, horizontal (man) and vertical (God). When one direction is wrong, the other direction is wrong!

Notice that the young man shows himself in this next verse. Mr 10:20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." He settles for calling Jesus, teacher, NOT good teacher revealing that he considers Jesus merely a teacher with the rest of the scribes and lawyers! However, his comments also reveal that he considers his works important because he has done okay with relationships that are horizontal. If he had been a ball of fire for the Lord, he would have said something about God, idols, Sabbath, those things that reveal the God relationship, BUT he didn't!

In recognition of the God relationship or the vertical relationship, Jesus reveals something that He would later reveal to His disciples. It is a great many persons who have voiced their concern that this young man could have been the Judas replacement based upon what Jesus now says. Look closely, Mr 10:21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." This matches what Jesus told His disciples in Gethsemane! Mt 25:40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" By selling all that he had, coming to Jesus, cross in hand and following, this young ruler would take care of all the commandments that deal with God relationship!

The young man missed it all, the rest of his days on earth would be in conviction, hardness, and cover-up. He would have thoughts of what-ifs and what-could-have-beens! This young man could have been rich in eternal things, but sold out for a few pieces of earth's gold that would perish in age and value depending on the world economy. Jesus revealed that this man DID trust in what he had, works, and he assumed that his "good" deeds would be enough to carry him into God's kingdom in Mr 10:23.

The world has introduced into the church thinking that works please God and have SOME affect of our eternal life. So what's the conclusion up to this point? Jesus, Yashua Hamashiach, could have said, "Young man, keep the Sabbath!" Here is the perfect opportunity to reveal the Sabbath's importance, but He says, "Come, take up your cross, and follow Me!"

When the Sadducees were silenced by the wisdom Of God in Jesus, a lawyer was among the Pharisees becoming brave decided now was the time to test Him! So this lawyer asks Jesus a question. Mt 22:36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" The test is a hard one from the lawyer's perspective! The lawyer is well versed in the Law knowing that it contains many, many commandments, NOT just 10. In the Luke recording found in 10:25 on, the question is again eternal life, and Jesus asks him what is written in the Law in the next verse. He quotes Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18 to Jesus who says that he has answered correctly.

Mt 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." These two commandments actually contain all of God's Word. All the Law and the Prophets revealed the Lord and the clear relationship He desired with His creation, and the way to have that relationship through the Law, the Mosaic covenant. During the OT the only way to have a godly relationship was to be Jew, and to do the Law. Upon the rejection of His own, Jesus' death opened a fountain of His blood for whoever who would repent and be born again regenerated by His Spirit. The lawyer wants to justify himself and asks who is his neighbor so Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lu 10:30-37)!

Once again we have the eternal life issue, what are commandments, and the chance for Jesus to say, "Keep the Sabbath!" However, He never mentions the Sabbath! If the Sabbath had so much pleasing God in it, wouldn't Jesus have taken these two opportunities to mention it? Sabbath adherents take many verses and make emotional appeals about them even to the point of implying that not keeping the Sabbath is sin. So why did Jesus not take these opportunities to deal with these two men and the commandments making it clear how they could please God by KEEPING the Sabbath? Because the Sabbath is a part of the Mosaic covenant, the Jew's way to God.

The Law contained many statutes, regulations, precepts, and commandments for everyday life and for dealing with sin. The Law given to Moses on Mt Sinai was the only way to God! The OT had no other way. For a Gentile to have a relationship with the Lord, he had to convert to Judaism, practice the Law, and then he would be accepted by God.

What was in the Law of Moses?

The Law was not merely 10 commandments, but rather the Law was the relationship of God put into words for the Jew to come to HIM! In the OT, there is only ONE way to God, the Law. Again keep in mind that Jesus concludes the whole Law into two commandments, De 6:5 and Lev 19:18! Jesus never mentioned to keep the Sabbath. By now we must ask why not? Why is the Sabbath not mentioned by Jesus to be kept when He had the chance to bring clarity to the issue?

The OT was a covenant for the Jew and the Jew alone. The OT revealed the Jew as God's choice, God's way to Him through the Law. But we know from the New Testament that the Law had short-comings. He 9:1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. The writer of Hebrews says the OT Law, the Mosaic covenant dealt with earthly issues. Further, there are more limitations found in vss 7-8 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. Only once a year could sins of ignorance be dealt with and then the priest must have blood with him. The OT Law was only symbolic and it pointed to another time and another sacrifice. We see this limitation in vss 9-10 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The blood of the Law could only point to Jesus. The Law could change a person from dead in sins to alive in Christ. The Law could not do what the Holy Spirit can do, that is to regenerate a person when the blood of Jesus is applied to the heart filled with godly sorrow that produces repentance. All those people who dies in the OT but were righteous under the Law had to await Jesus' death to hear about the truth of His blood, and for His ascension when He led captivity captive into the heavenlies (Eph 4:8-10). Take a second look at this truth. Most Sabbath keepers also reject the idea that Jesus took those of Abraham's bosom to heaven! These two details seem to be linked clearly together revealing the inadequacy of the Law leaving man in a "sleep" state which they support with other improper applications of Scripture.

Let's look closer at the NEW covenant, the one that was bought by Yashua Himself! He 9:11-12 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Why did Jesus need to use His blood? He 9:13-14 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Jesus' blood was PERFECT because He had never sinned! Jesus walked this earth without sin making His sacrifice as The Lamb of God a ONE time event able to wash all sin from all those who repent of their sin.

The Law could only see from a distance what Jesus would do for His creation! He truly is the Son of God! He 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. The Law was the old covenant, and its requirement of blood shadowed what Jesus' blood would do. He 9:16-18 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.

Blood must be involved in the covenant of the Law, and it does show what Jesus will do, BUT it is limited. He 10:3-4 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. The blood of bulls and goats could not cleanse, could not take away sin from people!

He 10:5-10 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come In the volume of the book it is written of Me To do Your will, O God.'" Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

He 10:15-22 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

These two passages show the born again regeneration that Jesus discussed with Nicodemus in John 3! Th Law could not produce this level of relationship! The Law failed to make the reality of cleansing of the conscience from sin! The Law exposed, the Law trained, but the Law was limited. The New covenant that the blood of Jesus has produced regenerates a sinful man making him born from above.

The writer of Hebrews makes a remarkable conclusion to his Jewish audience to whom he writes this Epistle. In vss 35-38 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." The old covenant, the Mosaic covenant had its limitations but the New covenant was faith in Jesus' sacrifice without reverting back or drawing back in unbelief of any level.

Paul writes his Epistle to Galatia about this return to the Law. Many false teachers had come and taught that faith plus the Law was necessary for a right and PLEASING relationship with God. In Gal 2:11-21, Paul deals with Peter's return to the Law that took place in Acts 15. Paul calls the Galatians "foolish" wanting to know who had "bewitched" them (3:1)!! He goes on to ask them if they were born again by the Law or faith (3:2)!

Keeping the Sabbath is about the return to the Law. Keeping the Sabbath has nothing to do with the Spirit, but on the contrary as a part of the Law it brings a curse. Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." To keep only part or parts of the Law and say that one is blessed or that God is pleased rejects what Paul writes.

Furthermore Paul states that we are justified in Yashua Hamashiach only by faith and the Law has no faith which is why Abraham is the foreshadow of our blessing to come in Christ the Messiah, and NOT the Mosaiac covenant from which we needed redemption! Gal 3:10-14 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Keeping the Sabbath and the rest of the Law had a purpose, but again outside of the purpose the Law is inadequate in relationship to God! Let's look at the purpose of the Law. Gal 3:19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. AND Gal 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Look at what Paul is deeply concerned over, the church returning to the Law! Gal 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

Paul goes on to say what I have stated several times, there are two covenants, the Law and faith. He uses the allegory of Hagar as Mt Sinai and the Mosaic Law, and Jerusalem which is free where Mt Zion is located (Gal 4:21-31).

I am free! The Son has set me free (John 8:36), so I am to stand fast in my Christian liberty! Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

How interesting that Paul reveals the same thing that Jesus told the lawyer and the rich young ruler! We are to walk in love! Love fulfills what Jesus has told us! John 15:9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." John 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." John 15:17 "These things I command you, that you love one another." Gal 5:7-15 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! All these words are the same as what Jesus told the lawyer and the rich young ruler, and Paul reinforces to Galatia these very same truths!

Can keeping the Sabbath, a part of the Law do you any good? Maybe, perhaps as much good as the warm fuzzies of celebrating "Christmas" or "Easter" or even "Halloween"! Let us conclude with a quote from James 2:10-11 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

John Greene