Shabbat/Sabbath

Yeshua expressed his views of the Sabbath in Mark chapter 2 when the Pharisees complained to him about his disciples picking some heads of grain during the Sabbath:

“One Sabbath Yeshua was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look! Why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’ He answered, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.’ Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’” Mark 2: 23 –28

In this text, Yeshua is declaring that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of mankind, and if the disciples were hungry, picking grain was not violating the Sabbath, but the legalism of the Pharisees. Yeshua, as Lord of the Sabbath, was concerned for his disciples’ welfare. And yet today, he cares about the weariness and burdens of mankind, and came to this earth to be our burden bearer. In Matthew 11 Yeshua states:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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 will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28 –30

This offer is open to all who believe, and do not turn away from the Messiah. In Hebrews 3: 7- 19 we are warned by the Spirit of God to not harden our hearts and go astray …disobeying God with a heart of unbelief. Further, we are encouraged, while it is yet Today, to seek him and the fellowship of other believers continually. He reminds us of our forefathers, Israel in the wilderness, who because of unbelief did not enter the promised land.

So, the Sabbath rest which God promises is not simply a day but a state of the heart. We who believe enter God’s rest through obedience and faith. We are told to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, because our God is faithful. We are also required to “…not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another …and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25.

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