Respectfully-
The question of whether Sabbath keeping is imperative on Christians is a debated topic among Christians. Some argue that Sabbath keeping is still a requirement for Christians, while others believe that it is not necessary.
Those who argue that Sabbath keeping is not necessary often point to Colossians 2:16-17, where the apostle Paul declares, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Similarly, Romans 14:5 states, “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”
These Scriptures make it clear that, for the Christian, Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom, not a command from God.
However, those who argue that Sabbath keeping is still necessary often point to the fact that the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:8-11). They also point to the fact that Jesus Himself observed the Sabbath and taught about its importance (Mark 2:27-28).
In terms of exegetical information, it is important to note that the Sabbath was a central and highly symbolic festival in ancient Judaism, commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. According to the Old Testament narrative in the book of Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to keep the Sabbath day holy and to do no work on that day (Exodus 20:8-11).
In the New Testament, the Sabbath is mentioned in several instances, including in the Gospels where Jesus is described as observing the Sabbath and teaching about its importance.
However, there are also instances where Jesus and His disciples were accused of violating the Sabbath law, leading to debates and controversies among the religious leaders of the time (Matthew 12:1-14).
In terms of rabbinical writings, the Talmud contains extensive discussions and interpretations of the Sabbath laws and traditions. These writings provide insight into the ways in which the Sabbath was observed and understood in ancient Judaism.
In conclusion, the question of whether Sabbath keeping is imperative on Christians is a complex and debated topic. While some argue that it is still necessary, others believe that it is a matter of spiritual freedom. Regardless of one's stance on the issue, it is important to understand the historical and biblical context of the Sabbath and to approach the topic with respect and understanding for differing viewpoints.
Our Lord’s commentary on the Fourth Commandment is of great importance and relevance to contemporary Christians. Let us explore some of the implications of His teaching on the Sabbath as we conclude this lesson.
The first lesson which we should learn from the Sabbath controversy in the gospels is that the central and foundational issue underlying the controversy is not Jesus’ interpretation, but Jesus’ identity. The Jews sought to put Jesus to death as a result of His defense. The reason was not only because those who opposed Him were put to shame, but because the Sabbath controversy was but further proof that Jesus was God incarnate.
When you read through the gospels carefully, you will discover that at the outset of His ministry Jesus performed miracles on the Sabbath, but that they were not challenged.3 What caused the change? What made the “violation of the Sabbath” such a heated issue? The answer is this: Jesus had clearly claimed to be God incarnate. The Sabbath controversy was therefore the attempt to prove Jesus a Law-breaker, thus proving that such a “sinner” could not be God: “Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, ‘This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others were saying, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And there was a division among them” (John 9:16).
The Gospel of Mark illustrates the sequence of events which led to the Sabbath controversy. In 1:21-28 Jesus cast an unclean spirit from a man in a synagogue in Capernaum on the Sabbath, yet there was no objection raised, only praise. In chapter 2 Jesus first forgave the sins of the paralytic who had been lowered through the roof of the house where Jesus was speaking. The scribes reasoned that only God could forgive sins, and thus that Jesus was making the claim to be God. Thus, in the closing verses of chapter 2 the Sabbath controversy is commenced. The Sabbath issue was but a symptom problem, an attempt to prove Jesus to be a sinner, and not the Son of God. This debate, like countless other debates throughout church history, was not a search for truth but an attempt to squelch the truth.
The identity of Jesus as the Son of God was the heart of the Sabbath issue. Jesus could work on the Sabbath because He was the Son of God (John 5:16-17), One greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6), and greater than David—Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). Since God the Father was the Sabbath maker, Jesus, as God, can not only break the Sabbath, He can abolish it altogether. As God, Jesus could work on the Sabbath, and more than this, He could offer men true rest, a rest far superior to the Old Testament Sabbath rest, and surely far better than any rest which the Pharisees had to offer. It is no accident that these verses immediately precede the great Sabbath debate in Matthew’s gospel: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
There is only one true rest, my friend, and that is the rest which Jesus Christ gives, the rest of forgiveness of sins, the rest of ceasing from striving to be holy, and of being found holy in Him. I pray that this rest is yours.
https://bible.org/seriespage/sabbath-controversy-gospels#:~:text=16. The Sabbath Controversy in the Gospels
Only the Lord can open your eyes to the truth.
