Should we observe the Sabbath?
Published:Monday | April 2, 2018 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
In a letter titled 'God's Sabbath beyond debate', Jermaine Johnson referred to biblical events and scriptures to reinforce the current importance of the Sabbath and its observance.
But the physical significance of the Mosaic law actually exited with the appearance of the Messiah. 'For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath'. Again, the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). A shirt was made for you and not you for the shirt, not being forever bound to wear it. The principles of the Mosaic law, however, did not go out with Jesus' appearance, as He himself commented in Matthew 5:17: Do not think I have come to destroy the law and the prophets, but to elevate the law to a higher plain.
The observance lies now in the spirit, and not in a physical act. The requirement is not just to avoid adultery, murder, theft and so on, but the very thought that gives rise to them. The Sabbath observance cannot, therefore, continue in a dry replay of the law given to the Israelites.
In fact, Deuteronomy 5:15 specifically states, 'Because you were slaves in Egypt and Jehovah your God brought you out with an outstretched arm, that is why I'm commanding you to observe the Sabbath'. Is there anyone among us now who were slaves in Egypt? Further, Colossians 2:16 says, 'Let no man judge you in respect of ... a Sabbath' But does that throw out that spiritual focus and reflection that the physical Sabbath facilitated? No, because Jesus' arrival gives rise to spiritual rest from own failings - we enter in God's rest through the thousand-year reign of Christ, at the end of which we will attain perfection and can also be call children of God.
Homer Sylvester