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The Lawful Sabbath

Throughout his ministry, Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees on many topics, including the Sabbath. The debate on what one can do on the Sabbath is still a popular topic among those of us considered to be first-century apostolic primitive Christians. The responses given by Jesus provide guidance for us in the modern age. I affirm that Saturday is the Sabbath from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday and that on this day no work is to be done; the Sabbath is a day of rest. For those who think like the Pharisees, the question is what can we do on this day of rest?
These type of questions make me feel like the trap is sprung ready to close quickly upon me. So what did Jesus do on the Sabbath Day?

Matthew 12:1-12
At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day. And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.

When asked what is lawful to do, the questioner is asking either out of a sincere desire to learn because of their lack of knowledge, or to set a trap, just like the Pharisees tried to set. Jesus did explain what was lawful to do on the Sabbath day. The difference between Jesus and the Pharisees was that the Pharisees were explaining obedience in terms of what one could not do. According to the Pharisees, one could not pluck the ears of corn while walking in a field on the Sabbath day. According to the Pharisees, one could not heal on the Sabbath day. On the other side, Jesus was explaining obedience in terms of what one could do, showing an active faith. Jesus showed that one could do well on the Sabbath day. Jesus emphasized mercy; the Pharisees emphasized sacrifice, needed by a person for doing something they shouldn’t do.

Mercy came into the example of David and the shewbread. According to the law, David should have been toast, and yet was not incinerated because God had mercy on him at this time. In the modern age, how many ways can a person be made whole, or healed? There are any number of possibilities by which a person may be healed. There are an infinite number of scenarios by which a person may do well on the Sabbath Day. It is not our place to ensnare a Christian because of what they do or do not do on the Sabbath day. It is not our place to use God’s mercy as a tool to deceive ourselves and others. It is God’s place to be merciful, and God wants us to become merciful with others at all times. And on the Sabbath day no matter where we find ourselves, we must choose to be like Jesus and show mercy through doing good to others. As we do good on the Sabbath day, we are doing what is lawful.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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