Recently I penned a series of post on the Ten Commandments and as I was writing it, found that the Sabbath day was the only commandment not reapplied to believers in the New Testament.
In writing that series of posts, I was reminded that the Sabbath day was one of the main irritants between the Lord Jesus and the Pharisees.
Consider John 5:18 in light of the importance of the Sabbath to the Jewish nation? Sabbath observance was a matter of life and death! Note than John was giving two reasons the Jews were trying to kill the Messiah; equality with God, and breaking the Sabbath.
John 5:18
This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
I get the equal with God thing – Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. (Deal with it – every day of your life friend.)
But Jesus breaking Sabbath? How could Jesus (God manifest in the flesh) be breaking His own law? That is the definition of sin!
But hold on to your hat. Jesus informs us just one verse prior that the Father works on the Sabbath
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Okay – now I’m seriously messed up again!
How could God the Father and His Messiah be breaking the 4th commandment and things still exist. God cannot go against His own authority – that is impossible!
Okay – here is a solution.
I wonder if John is simply referring to the Sabbath traditions of the elders, but not the written commandment delivered by angels through Moses!
Unless something else is going on…
Come join me as we venture down this path of Jesus on the Sabbath.
By the way, I will be posting a list of New Testament verses that include the word Sabbath for those who may be interested in pursuing this study on their own – Highly recommended!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and I am looking forward to visiting with you in our next post.
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