Keep the Sabbath Sacred. What does that mean to you?
As promised, here is my answer. Please comment, discuss, tawk amongst ya-selves, especially if you think I'm completely off base. Luv ya's!
The Sabbath in the Old Testament is a type (picture/representation) of resting because of the finished work of Christ. Besides the scripture, common sense and natural law tell us that God gave us night for resting and that we can't thrive without recreation. I include spiritual recreation in my life on a daily basis, just as I eat food and breathe air, and because this life is short...eternity is long. If I keep the "Sabbath" at least spiritually, every day, I will naturally fulfill His law whether it's on Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday, Hebrew calendar, Gregorian calendar, solar calendar, daylight savings time, etc. etc. Just as Jesus healed on the Pharisee's "Sabbath", in Him, we do not need to fear the "law", but understand what, should I say Who the law actually is. He is LORD of the Sabbath. He IS (fulfilled) the law. He IS the Sabbath rest. The Sabbath is not doing, because there is nothing we can do to gain salvation. That is not to say that once we accept adoption into God’s kingdom through Christ, we should do nothing, or that we should do anything we want.Before doing what we should, we must remember that no action, no ritual does any good without love.
1 Corinthians 13:3 - And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Matthew Henry's Commentary says:
“The excellent way had in view in the close of the former chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, almsgiving, but love in its fullest meaning; true love to God and man. Without this, the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding, are of no value without a benevolent and charitable heart. There may be an open and lavish hand, where there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to others will do none to us, if it be not done from love to God, and good-will to men. If we give away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will not profit. Nor even the most painful sufferings. How are those deluded who look for acceptance and reward for their good works, which are as scanty and defective as they are corrupt and selfish!”
So, when the new Covenant given to us in Jesus’ blood began:
Acts 4:32…all of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them [z]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own (it all belonged to Him)…33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them…More is recorded about how the believers were in contact on a daily basis.
Later, when they were scattered away from Jerusalem and others began to believe, Jesus’ teaching reminded them that even…”where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”Matthew 18:20. He promised this would be true regardless of where the gathering took place, so that when I “gathered” to walk, talk and pray in the park with my sister yesterday, He was there. This word “gathering” is the same Greek word “synago” that is used in Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling (synago) of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
One last commentary of Hebrews 10:25-31 says:
“Believers are to consider how they can be of service to each other, especially stirring up each other to the more vigorous and abundant exercise of love, and the practice of good works. The communion of believers is a great help and privilege, and a means of steadfastness and perseverance. We should observe the coming of times of trial, and be thereby quickened to greater diligence. There is a trying day coming on all men, the day of our death."
