We find the first mention of the Sabbath in the second chapter of Genesis, the book of beginnings. After recounting how God created everything in six days in the first chapter, we read: "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." -Genesis 2:1-3, KJV, emphasis mine
In reading these verses, we immediately notice that the Sabbath is inextricably linked to the cessation of God's work and the act of resting. Likewise, we find that this notion is further reinforced when God introduces the Sabbath to the Israelites in the sixteenth chapter of Exodus. After giving them manna to eat, we read there: "And he [Moses] said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the Lord: to day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day." -Exodus 16:23-30, KJV, emphasis mine
Then, when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, we find again that element of ending work and resting. We read there: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." - Exodus 20:8-11, KJV, emphasis mine
Indeed, this notion of resting from one's work on the Sabbath is apparent throughout the writings of the Old Testament. But did this notion carry over to the New Testament? Is there any application of this principle for Christians?
We know that the earliest Christian churches were entirely Jewish, and that they continued to observe the Jewish Sabbath. However, as Christianity began to spread to Gentile populations who didn't have any personal knowledge of the Sabbath or any tradition of observing it, the relevance of the Sabbath declined rapidly as Jewish Christians became a minority within the church. And this is the situation that was taken up by the anonymous author of the epistle to the Hebrews.
After admonishing his audience to "consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" (Hebrews 3:1, KJV), the author instructs them to take a look at the experience of the Hebrews as they approached the Promised land (same chapter). He admonishes them not to follow their example of disbelief and stubbornness and reminds them that God did not permit that generation to enter into his rest (same chapter). In other words, the author is invoking the old notion of resting from work.
In the following chapter, the author summarizes the concept for his Christian audience and hearkens back to something that Jesus Christ had said during his earthly ministry. We read there: "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." - Hebrews 4:1-11, KJV, emphasis mine
In the gospel according to Matthew, we read that Christ issued an invitation to the weary sea of humanity that stood before him. He said: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." -Matthew 11:28-30, KJV, emphasis mine
This then is the notion of the Sabbath that is still relevant to all Christians: We must stop doing our own works and rest in Christ - We must lay down our own burdens and replace them with his featherlight mantle - We must cease to rely on our own understanding and learn of him!
Miller Jones
16 comments:
To clarify:
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest [sabbatismos] to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest [katapausis], he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
“The rest which is reserved for the people of God is properly called a “sabbath rest” - a sabbatismos or “sabbath keeping” - because it is their participation in God’s own rest. When God completed his work of creation, he “rested”; so his people, having completed their service on earth, will enter into his rest... the meaning is brought out clearly in the NEB rendering: “Therefore, a sabbath rest still awaits the people of God...
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
“What then is this sabbath rest which awaits them? It is evidently an experience which they do not enjoy in their present mortal life, although it belongs to them as a heritage, and by faith they may live in the good of it here and now. How they may do so is illustrated with a wealth of biographical details in ch. 11. And in that chapter we have further references to the eternal homeland which is the heritage of believers, the saints’ everlasting rest - the “better country, that is, a heavenly one” which they desire, the “city” which God has prepared for them, the well-founded city of which he is both architect and builder (11:10, 16).
Phil 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, (NIV).
2Ti 4:18a The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.... (NIV).
“Of this city of God men and women of faith are citizens already, although the full exercise of their civic privileges in it is reserved for the future... this blissful rest in unbroken fellowship with God is the goal to which his people are urged to press forward; this is the final perfection which has been prepared for them by the sacrifice of their heavenly high priest.
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
“It is for you,” our author might well have told them (in the words of a younger contemporary of his), “that paradise is opened, the tree of life is planted, the age to come is prepared, plenty is provided, a city is built, rest is appointed, goodness is established and wisdom perfected beforehand” (4 Ezra 8:52)” (F.F Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Revised, NICNT, pp.109-10).
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Rev 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
“..[Hebrews 4] vv 9-10 anticipate the festival of the priestly people of God in the heavenly sanctuary, celebrating in the presence of God the eternal Sabbath with unceasing praise and adoration (Hofius, Katapausis, 109-10)” (William L. Lane, Hebrews 1-8, WBC, p.102).
Great article.
I received this comment with regard to the above post: "I am not sure if I am reading your meaning, but you seem to be saying that the rest to which Hebrews 4 urges us is to cast our cares on Christ. That we ought to do, but the text of Hebrews 4 is clear that there remains a sabbath rest (as the Greek has it) and that we enter it by resting from our works "as God did from his." God didn't find his rest in Christ. He ceased his work. I think the meaning is clear: keep sabbath by ceasing your work."
My reply (which touches on the first comment here): "As with all of these scriptures, the formula in Hebrews 4 is to 1) end our work and 2) rest. I referenced the previous chapter (Hebrews 3) in my post, but did not quote extensively from it. In that chapter, we read: "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (verses 1-6) We must accept the fact that our own works are futile, stop doing them AND accept the work that Jesus Christ has done and rest in that. The Israelites great sin was their lack of belief in God's ability to perform what "He" had promised to do for them! Read the rest of chapter 3. Also, notice the conclusion of Chapter 4 in this regard: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (verses 14-16) Hence, if we are relying on our own works to enable us to enter God's rest, we are going to be sadly disappointed."
yeah spoken like a true protestant.
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." - Hebrews 4:1-11"
it clearly says there remains a keeping of the Sabbath for the people of God (it's even more clear in the Greek)
nice attempt at twisting the scriptures, but I wouldn't expect anything less here.
Interesting that the second part of 7:06's comment is ignored:
"Let us LABOUR therefore to ENTER into that rest".
Why?
So you do not fall after the same example of UNBELIEF.
If you were just "keeping" a seventh day Sabbath, would you have to LABOUR to do that? No, you'd simply stop working and stay in your house. "He also ceased from his own works" has to do with the carnal nature - the very nature that is exhibited in things like adultery, lying, fornicating, you know the rest. Entering into the Rest of God - belief in Jesus Christ and living His life in You - that takes faith to do. It also takes belief to do. Notice the last words... "The same example of unbelief". Those that say they believe but live lives that are full of greed, wickedness, and all manner of vileness are those who are setting the "example of unbelief".
The "REST" - the "SABBATH KEEPING" - is living a life of ceasing from the carnal ways of man (lying, stealing, sordid gain, envy, greed, you know the list) and entering into the rest of "CHRIST IN YOU" as is repeated in scripture over and over again. Again, I'll repeat. You don't labor to abstain from laboring. This is not in reference to a physical Sabbath. It's in reference to the Spiritual continual rest that happens when one lives in faith and belief and service of and to Jesus Christ.
Typical legalistic Armstrongite, you're the one using proof texting to twist scriptures. You lift a single verse out of context to support the notion you have settled on - In this instance, the obligation of everyone to keep the sabbath. And just for the record, I'm not a Protestant (although most Protestants have a better understanding on this one than most Armstrongites exhibit).
You are advocating a position with which the Pharisees would be comfortable. In your legalistic devotion to observing the letter of the law, you miss the spiritual intent of the law. In this case, to rest in the work of Jesus Christ - the one who observed the letter of the law and filled it to the full, paid the penalty for breaking it and made it possible for us to experience the ultimate Sabbath rest.
It is interesting to note that even animals and land were given Sabbath Rests, which seems odd if the whole intent of the Sabbath was to strictly some kind of spiritual lesson or type.
Much as governments in the civilized world have implemented what is essentially third tithe, and have have given “Jubilee” relief through bankruptcy law, they’ve also provided for sabbath rest on both the Jewish and Christian preferred days of worship.
In Armstrongism, the sabbath was basically weekly indoctrination day, a day to gloat over because we alone had “correct” understanding which was supposedly what God looked at in order to determine to whom prophecy was to be revealed. We all know how that went, but even after almost 45 years, some will not admit the obvious.
BB
This is the welfare state projected into the bible. Big government does everything for people, including their overcoming. All that's required in return is that people vote for the government by believing in Christ. This view is hard to reconcile with the weeping and gnashing of teeth scriptures.
Everything in the Old Testament - the law, the prophets - pointed to Jesus. The Sabbath pointed to Jesus. Jesus was and is the focal point of the Bible and of life, to the Christian. This point was made crystal clear in scripture repeatedly. Jesus made it clearer still when he said that nothing in the Old Testament can possibly pass until everything required was finished.
Animals and land were included in the OT Sabbath Rests as commanded in Mosaic Law to signify the completeness of the Rest available through Christ. Remember - these symbols were hidden to the ones who received them - hidden mysteries and parables that even prophetically could not be understood until the time of revealing.
When Hebrews 4 was written it was written to the Jewish Christians who lived in Jerusalem at the time. There was much contention over the inclusion of Gentiles into the faith traditionally held by the Jews. Acts 15 makes it clear that the Gentiles were not made subject to the Law as the Jews were, and the Jews felt the Gentiles should be subject to the fullness of Jewish Law. This point of contention was very clear in Hebrews 4, when Paul (or whoever wrote Hebrews - this is debated, too) was making a solid point that there REMAINS a Sabbath Rest for the people of God (Including Gentiles!!) which is based on belief. It's already been made clear in Scripture that both Jew and Gentile were accepted by God. It's already made clear that the Holy Spirit descended on the Gentiles and the Jews, both. The Jews obviously must have had the state of mind of, "Well, if they don't have to keep the Sabbath, and they're saying we don't have to, then what's left?" The answer, as I see it, is that:
FIRST, unbelief is the question.
1. There are warnings against Unbelief. (Hebrews 3)
2. Don't have a sinful, unbelieving heart. (Hebrews 3.)
3. Encourage one another daily, as long as it is "today", not to be deceived by sin.
4. The Israelites could not enter the promised land because of UNBELIEF.
5. The promise of entering into the Rest still stands.
6. It still remains for some to enter into that Rest.
The opportunity to listen and hear God is available "today". Those who listen and hear God and believe enter into His Rest.
7. God set a certain day, "today", to hear His voice and to not harden your heart.
8. The Sabbath-Rest for the people of God then remains
9. Anyone who enters God's rest rests from their works
Finally, it's about the matters of the heart - the thoughts and attitudes of a person.
10. Make every effort to enter into that rest by being obedient
11. The word of God judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
12. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him we must account to.
Briefly and woefully inadequately summarized, This is a lot deeper than a 24x7 physical day. This is about the core and soul and heart, and mind of a person and the difference between unbelief and people sinning and belief and turning from sin.
I have often wondered whether Chemosh is as big of an a$$ho!e to his people as YHVH is to his.
By SHT's measure, YHVH told the Hebrews, "I'm giving you special laws that will benefit you" even though he knew that those laws were a kind of bait-and-switch in which the scam would be hidden until Jesus Christ came. If I found out that my people had been punked by such a trickster-god, I would at the very least check out what was going on with the other gods in the Council of 70 Gods, as YHVH was so obviously not worth following.
The antinomial orientation of HEBREWS is 'in line' and 'on board' with Pauline teaching, even tho it is felt Paul may not be its author.
So yes, the passage in focus is clearly 'spiritualizing-away' a literal adherence Sabbath observance, in line with previous Pauline epistles!
There's no escaping the patent view of the NT canon on this issue - (as the Tkaches were doomed to concede!)
But, to throw a lifeline to the Jews/Adventists/Armstrongists, neither Paul or Hebrews writer have any evidence/provenience for an historical Jesus overthrowing the Torah. Their dilemma, however, is being beholden to the NT canon of the proto-orthodox church.
So you are saying Paul clearly communicated the Sabbath did not need to be observed?
12:15
"So you are saying Paul clearly communicated the Sabbath did not need to be observed?"
Yes indeed he did, and he is the earliest Christian writer we have, and he gives us his name! which adds authenticity (compared to the later anonymous and suspect Gospels.)
Then why so much confusion and obscurity on such an important issue?
11:00 AM
"Then why so much confusion and obscurity on such an important issue?"
"important"? Who says it's important?
The fanatics that's who: Peter, James, Paul, Polycarp, Marcion, Mohammad, Luther, Joseph Smith, Ellen White, Charles Russell, Herbert Armstrong...(as time goes on, the quality goes down)
As I said earlier, none of these players have documentary provenience on the primitive Jesus messianic movement, so it's every man for himself! No surprise then that there's a big brouhaha very early on as hinted by the Acts 15 crisis.
The latest thing in A.I. is 'Generative/Adversarial networks'(GAN) This applies to humans also: Paul was definitely Generative, so was the amazing creativity of the first Gospel writer. When the Adversarial opposition comes, multiple alternative 'outputs' emerge that have weighted validity from which mainstream orthodoxy can emerge. Doesn't mean it's right though, because the 'input' is unreliable.
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