Next Sunday I will have the joy and privilege of preaching. It will be one last interim sermon before my preacher, Jovan, returns. The passage assigned to me is Matthew 12:1-14—two stories about “work” on the Sabbath. Since these stories are frequent in all four gospels, I’ll very briefly speak about how Jesus answered those who condemned Him for, in their view, “working” on the Sabbath.

First, Sabbath rest was taken very seriously in the Old Testament. Jesus also took it seriously but differed in His understanding from the Pharisees of His time. Sabbath was to be a gift, not a burden. It was made for us, not us for it. Sabbath gave us the important gift of rest, to center upon God in worship and thanksgiving. Centering upon God also called us to center upon human need.

Second, Jesus said that He was the Lord of the Sabbath. Sometimes chapter divisions keep us from seeing continuity in a passage. That may be the case in Matthew 12. Notice how Matthew 11 ends:

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (NIV)

Much of this is Sabbath language. In giving us rest, Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, fulfills the Sabbath in Himself. We, in turn, keep the Sabbath when we are yoked with Jesus.

Tim Kelley