“Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest. I am the LORD your God. [Leviticus 19.3]
I am going to attempt to address the Sabbath here in a way that makes sense in light of Jesus' own discussion about it.
Without noting every New Testament reference to the Sabbath here, suffice it to say that Jesus addressed the Sabbath as something much different than a day to be observed in legal deference. Jesus presented the Sabbath as a day for doing good... which He demonstrated is healing, helping and even preparing food to eat. Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man and not the other way around.
The significance of Jesus doing good on the Sabbath is paramount. In fact, so important is Jesus' teaching about the Sabbath that God, in the Old Testament (like Leviticus 19.3) said the Sabbath days must always be observed. "Always" sounds infinite to me...
All who believe in Jesus "enter into rest." How important is that? So important is this that God would make strict laws regarding the Sabbath long before Jesus' Advent to earth! When Jesus came on the scene of earth, the Sabbath, in prophetic fulfillment, transformed from a day of rest to a life of rest in Christ. Perhaps that could explain why, in Leviticus 19.3, the Sabbath is not referred to as a single day (of the week), but as "days."
Because of God's perfect love for the world, one should expect no less than the strictest of commands for adherence to the Sabbaths foretelling His passion for all to rest (believe) in Christ. So important is this mandate that it is the only sin (not believing in Christ) for which man will suffer eternity in hell.
Wow.
Father, Your Word is so amazing and I am privileged to read it and learn more of You every day!
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