Post by Zac Loh on Oct 8, 2010 11:01:59 GMT -5
In Matthew 12:1-12, we find Jesus teaching on the subject of the Sabbath.
First, we rule the Sabbath and not the other way round, meaning that if it is working to bless people on the Sabbath, then it is lawful.
Secondly, that which is more important, is that the Sabbath is about the Lord of the Sabbath. Between the Lord of the Sabbath and the day of the Sabbath, it is obvious that the Lord is more important.
God created in six days, on the seventh day, He rested. This is how we acknowledge His lordship. We acknowledge that He created everything, so on the seventh day, we stop our working. Because, if God doesn't grant the increase, we work in vain. We acknowledge that all our works are only possible because He created everything in the first place.
So Lordship here is the central issue. Since God searches the heart, do we consider Him as Lord in our heart seven days a week? The answer must be yes, because He can't and won't be Lord only on one day out of seven, because it's like saying He is God only one day out of seven.
Since we are allowed to work for the good of others on the Sabbath, we are certainly encouraged to do good every day of the week.
The basic truth of the Sabbath is rest.
Right before Matthew chapter 12 is chapter 11, let's begin with 11:25 which says `At that time'. And 12:1 also say `At that time'. So it was a continuation.
Matthew 11:25-30 also teach us about the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Notice that Jesus said, "My yoke" and "My burden". We are taking the yoke and the burden of Christ which is easy and light. Meaning rest. The truth is, when Jesus is truly Lord in our heart every day of the week, we will find rest every day of the week including the Sabbath day.
We are freed from the yoke and burden of the law. But, until and unless, we take the yoke and burden of our Lord Jesus, we will not find rest.
Yoke and burden speak of lordship.
To have the fullness of grace, we cannot remain a free agent, we have to enter into the relationship of lordship with our Lord Jesus Christ. We will not enter into the fullness of this rest, the fullness of grace, if we take Him only as Savior in our heart.
First, we rule the Sabbath and not the other way round, meaning that if it is working to bless people on the Sabbath, then it is lawful.
Secondly, that which is more important, is that the Sabbath is about the Lord of the Sabbath. Between the Lord of the Sabbath and the day of the Sabbath, it is obvious that the Lord is more important.
God created in six days, on the seventh day, He rested. This is how we acknowledge His lordship. We acknowledge that He created everything, so on the seventh day, we stop our working. Because, if God doesn't grant the increase, we work in vain. We acknowledge that all our works are only possible because He created everything in the first place.
So Lordship here is the central issue. Since God searches the heart, do we consider Him as Lord in our heart seven days a week? The answer must be yes, because He can't and won't be Lord only on one day out of seven, because it's like saying He is God only one day out of seven.
Since we are allowed to work for the good of others on the Sabbath, we are certainly encouraged to do good every day of the week.
The basic truth of the Sabbath is rest.
Right before Matthew chapter 12 is chapter 11, let's begin with 11:25 which says `At that time'. And 12:1 also say `At that time'. So it was a continuation.
Matthew 11:25-30 also teach us about the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Notice that Jesus said, "My yoke" and "My burden". We are taking the yoke and the burden of Christ which is easy and light. Meaning rest. The truth is, when Jesus is truly Lord in our heart every day of the week, we will find rest every day of the week including the Sabbath day.
We are freed from the yoke and burden of the law. But, until and unless, we take the yoke and burden of our Lord Jesus, we will not find rest.
Yoke and burden speak of lordship.
To have the fullness of grace, we cannot remain a free agent, we have to enter into the relationship of lordship with our Lord Jesus Christ. We will not enter into the fullness of this rest, the fullness of grace, if we take Him only as Savior in our heart.