Scripture Reading:
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. —Colossians 2:16-17
Summary:
Sabbath keeping was required under the Old Covenant. This ceremonial observance of keeping one day reserved and holy for God was fulfilled in the New Testament through Christ. Jesus gives true soul rest and the child of God is to keep every day holy unto the Lord.
I. Institution of the Mosaic Sabbath
A. Exodus 16:22-30 First observed.
B. Exodus 20:8-11 Law given on Mount Sinai.
II. Sabbath Not Observed Until Moses
A. Nehemiah 9:14 Made known by Moses.
B. Deuteronomy 5:15 Commanded after deliverance from Egypt.
III. Reasons for the Sabbath
A. Exodus 23:12 Rest.
B. Exodus 20:11 Remember the Creator/creation.
C. Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Remember the deliverance from Egypt.
D. Leviticus 23:3-8; (19:30) Time of worship.
IV. Penal Law of the Sabbath
A. Exodus 31:12-17 (35:2-3) Death to anyone who worked.
B. Numbers 15:32-36 Man stoned who picked up sticks.
C. Nehemiah 13:17-19 Judah profanes the Sabbath.
D. Law was a Covenant to the Jewish People
E. Exodus 31:17 Sign between God and the children of Israel.
VI. The Old Covenant Law No Longer in Force (see Issue 18)
A. Hebrews 8:8-9, 13 Mosaic Law no longer in effect (Jeremiah 31:31-32).
B. Luke 16:16 The Law was until John the Baptist.
C. Galatians 3:11-13 No man justified by the law.
D. Romans 6:14 Not under the law (Romans 7:6).
E. Acts 15:5, 24, 28-29 Keeping the law of Moses not commanded.
VII. Jesus and the Sabbath
A. Matthew 12:1-8 Jesus justifies picking corn to eat.
B. Mark 2:27 Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.
C. Matthew 12:9-14 It is lawful to do good deeds on the Sabbath. (John 5:8, 9)
VIII. The Christian Sabbath
A. Hebrews 10:1 Law was a shadow of good things to come.
B. Matthew 5:17 Jesus fulfilled the law.
C. Isaiah 11:10 Glorious rest prophesied.
D. Hebrews 4:1-11 True sabbath rest through Christ.
E. Matthew 11:28 Jesus is the giver of spiritual rest.
F. Colossians 2:16-17 No man is to judge based on holy or sabbath days.
G. Luke 1:74-75 Every day holy.
IX. The Lord’s Day: Historical Day of Christian Worship
A. Revelation 1:10 The Lord’s Day.
B. Luke 24:1 (Matthew 28:1) Christ’s resurrection was on the first day of the week.
C. Acts 2:1 Day of Pentecost was on Sunday.
D. I Corinthians 16:1-2 (Acts 20:7) Followers of Christ worshipped on Sunday.
Conclusion:
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
—Galatians 4:9-10
