01.07. Sabbath NT Commandment
Sabbath is never commanded on the New Testament… Or is it? by Rodney Baker http://jeremiah31-10.net/ Shall we have a look at Hebrews 4:1-16 verse by verse and get some context?
Hebrews 4:1-16 NET.
(1) Therefore we must be wary that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it.
What is the “therefore” there for? To link this with Hebrews 3:1-19; which speaks of the rebellion in the wilderness. Apart from the grumbling and complaining, what was one thing that they struggled to do? Keep the Sabbath. Remember God’s chastisement of them when they went out looking for manna on Shabbat?
(2) For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.
Good news came to us (in the person of Jesus/Yeshua) just as to them (in the form of redemption out of slavery and bondage.) But the message only benefits those who listen. Are we listening?
(3) For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my anger, ’They will never enter my rest!’ " And yet God’s works were accomplished from the foundation of the world.
Direct quote from Psalms 95:11, which also speaks of the rebellion in the wilderness.
(4) For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,"
Hmmm – I wonder where it said that. Genesis perhaps? In the beginning?
What rest is the writer therefore referring to? Sabbath perhaps? The Seventh Day, with “do enter” in the present (passive) tense.
(5) but to repeat the text cited earlier: "They will never enter my rest!"
(6) Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience.
What was that? They failed to enter his rest (Sabbath) because of disobedience. Please, am I reading into the text something that’s not there? I don’t think so!
(7) So God again ordains a certain day, "Today," speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, "O, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts."
(8) For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward about another day.
(9) Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God.
(10)For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works. When did God rest from His works? On the seventh day. When do we rest from our works? On the seventh day. When will we rest from all our works and enjoy His provision, rule and teaching? On the seventh day, in the “Sabbath Millennium”, which is what the weekly Sabbath is a rehearsal of.
(11) Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
Why should we strive to enter into that rest each week? So that we don’t fall by the same sort of disobedience as our fathers in the wilderness. This is part of God’s survival plan for us during the tribulation.
(12) For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
See, this passage is directly related to the obedience of keeping Sabbath. It is about the heart attitude. Willingness to be obedient in the “little” things, like Sabbath, is a direct indicator of one’s obedience in greater things and one’s heart attitude towards our Creator. If we cannot obey God in even that, how can He expect us to be obedient and faithful in other things? Wasn’t that exactly His complaint with our fathers in the wilderness?
(13) And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
Yes, we will all be called to give account. How will you answer him? Were you faithful in the “little” things, so that he could entrust much to you?
(14) Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
(15) For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus is our great High Priest. He was tempted as we are, yet overcame temptation. We don’t always get it right, and He fully understands that. He knows our weaknesses and does not expect perfection. He only asks that we give it our “best shot” and trust Him to make up the shortfall (that is propitiation). But we have to at least make an effort to be obedient.
(16)Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help. When and how do we draw near? For that, you have to understand the term “Korban” which teaches us how we are to approach the throne of grace. It is particularly connected with Sabbath. We don’t come to God empty handed, neither with our own righteousness. We come with the righteousness and sacrifice of Jesus. Sabbath is that day of the week that God has set aside to meet with His people. Who are “His” people? I seem to remember words to the effect of “By this we shall know that we love Him, if we keep His commandments“, or perhaps, “…those who keep the Commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus”.
What’s it to be? Obedience or the same rebellion as our fathers in the wilderness? You know what the consequences for them were – only the two who were obedient entered the Promised Land (Joshua and Caleb). The rest died in the wilderness. Will you continue to set aside the Law of Moses in favor of the traditions of men? Or will you repent, take a stand and say, “As for me and my house, we will serve YHVH”?