It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, so I guess you could say I’ve been taking a blogging Sabbath of sorts. I do have a couple of posts in the works, but they’re not going to be published until after the baby arrives. One is the birth announcement, and another are thoughts on our choice of baby names.
In the meantime, though, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Sabbath, due to two things:
- I ran across this posting at Gospel-Centered Musings, in which Michael Dewalt, a student at PRTS, will be looking at the arguments typically made in opposition to Sabbath-keeping among Christians.
- In my daily Bible reading, the same day, I read through Matthew 12:1-14, which deals with the Sabbath.
This post is mainly just thoughts on the Matthew passage, but I should probably begin with somewhat of an explanation, so that you know where I’m coming from. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you’re probably aware of the special place in my heart for the Bible teachings of Dr. John MacArthur. Dr. MacArthur, in his writings, takes a decidedly anti-sabbatarian approach (see resource links below). Nevertheless, I am not quite convinced of his arguments against the sanctification of one day in seven to the Lord. John Piper takes a more pro-Sabbatarian approach, but in his sermon on Isaiah 58:13-14 (again, see below), he cautions that it is to be a delight, and not a burden.
I tend to lean toward Piper’s position, though it is not an issue that I have firm convictions on. I do tend to avoid, as much as in me, usual work on Sundays, and use them as a day of rest, relaxation, recreation, and focus upon the Lord.
And now, to the text itself:
12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. (ESV)
Thoughts
- The Pharisees display their notorious legalism very plainly here (v2)
- He rebukes them using Scripture, with the familiar formula “Have you not read?” not once, but twice (v3 and v5; see also 19:4-6 and 22:31-32 for other examples from Matthew’s gospel)
- When He says “…how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless” – He’s referring to the fact that very plainly, the priests themselves work on the Sabbath. (Application for the church: it’s OK for pastors to work on the Lord’s Day…)
- “I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.” Amazing and profound. And horrible blasphemy to His audience.
- The whole point of the passage, I think, can be found in 12b: “So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” This doesn’t refute the Sabbath, but harkens back to vv7-8.
Related Resources
- Desiring God
- Sabbath Hedonism, sermon on Isaiah 58:13-14
- Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep it Holy, sermon on Exodus 20:8-11
- If the Lord’s Day is Sunday, Why do We Have a Saturday Evening Service? Q&A about how worship/church attendance relates to the Lord’s Day
- Is There a “Lord’s Day”?, sermon on Romans 14:1-9
- Bible Bulletin Board (John MacArthur)
- Other
- Ligonier Ministries (R. C. Sproul) – How are we to keep the Sabbath in today’s society?
- Reformation 21 (Rick Phillips) – Advice for Sabbath-keeping (excellent!)
- Monergism.com – Resources on the Sabbath