Teacher: Rev. R. Woods-Barrant, Pastor
Scripture Foundation: Exodus 20:8-11 and Matthew 12:1-14
The Jewish View:
The Torah (Jewish scripture, it can be both written and oral depending on Jewish sect/denomination/movement) portrays the Sabbath concept both in terms of resting on the seventh day and allowing land to lie fallow during each seventh year. The motivation is described as going beyond a sign and remembrance of Yahweh's original rest during the creation week and extends to a concern that one's servants, family, and livestock be able to rest and be refreshed from their work. In addition to the instruction to rest on each seventh day and seventh year, periods of seven days are often relevant aspects of Biblical instructions. For example, the quarantine period for suspected skin diseases after initial examination by a priest was seven days, after which the priest would re-examine the skin and pronounce the person clean or unclean.
Other special days included the day after the seventh Sabbath, the first day of the seventh month, the day of ritual cleansing after being healed from an unclean disease or other event bringing uncleanness. In addition, in the battle of Jericho, Joshua commanded the army to march around Jericho each day for seven consecutive days and to march around Jericho seven times on the seventh day.
The Christian View:
Jesus is described as pointing out to the Jews their misunderstanding of the Mosaic Law by making observance of the Sabbath more rigorous than God had commanded.
It was not unlawful to eat on the Sabbath, even if food must be obtained by plucking grain from the ears. It was not unlawful to do good on the Sabbath day. Healing was a work of mercy, and Jesus, portrayed as Lord of the Sabbath, was merciful. Consequently, criticisms of healing on the Sabbath were unjustified. Jesus taught that the Sabbath was about mercy and should be purposeful. The Sabbath was supposed to point to him, the one promised through all of Israel's prophets, the one who would restore the rhythm of creation. When followers of Jesus observe the Sabbath, we live as if this restoration has already taken place. So that there is no confusion, the purest are correct, the seventh day of the week is Saturday but Christians celebrate (worship) on Sunday because it is the day on which Jesus was raised from the dead and on which the Holy Spirit had come to the apostles, this practice dates back to the book of Acts and is historically mentioned around 115AD.
Questions:
1. What does it mean to “remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” Ex. 20:8?
2. Ex. 20:11 says, “The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy,” that being the case, why isn’t doing work on the Sabbath a misuse of what God intended?
3. Explain what is meant by “Jesus being Lord of the Sabbath”?
4. How do people misuse the Sabbath in the 21st century?
5. What are your questions about the Sabbath?