Jesus and the Sabbath

Passage: Matthew 12:1-21

As Christians, when we talk about Sabbath, or what we now call the Lord's Day, it often turns to a discussion or maybe even a debate about what we can or can't do on that day. As one of the Ten Commandments and what we call a "creation" ordinance, we should recognize the significance of the day which God has set apart unto himself and for our rest. But as is often the case, we can easily turn what God meant as a life-giving blessing into a legalistic burden, turning the focus from cultivating relationship to keeping rules. Indeed, Jesus himself confronted this issue when the Pharisees accused he and his disciples of breaking the Sabbath commands. In his response, Jesus not only exposes their hypocritical hearts, but shines light on not just what is lawful, but on himself as the Lord of the Sabbath, giving added meaning to his earlier invitation to find our true rest in relationship to him. Join us Sunday as we consider what Jesus teaches us concerning the Sabbath and what the Sabbath teaches us concerning Jesus.