“Jesus is Sabbath” – Popular Excuse against 4. Commandment

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There are many different attempts to explain the Sabbath as obsolete. It’s as if people are really trying desperately to justify the rejection of the Fourth Commandment. “Jesus is the Sabbath” is one popular variant of these approaches.

Resting in Jesus is a permanent Sabbath

The Sabbath (7th day of the week, “Saturday”) no longer needs to be observed, since Jesus is ultimately “our Sabbath”. A widespread claim (excuse) to justify – specifically – the rejection of God’s Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11). In addition to the justification that we celebrate the 1st day of the week (“Sunday”) because Jesus Christ was resurrected on this day, the thesis about the “daily observance of the Sabbath” through the indwelling of Jesus is actually very popular.

As is so often the case, only individual verses are used to demonstrate that “Jesus is our Sabbath”, which are filled out with the desired interpretation when quoted in isolation. This includes in particular Matthew 11:28-29 (German Schlachter 2000):
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. 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.“

For English speakers, verse 28 is usually enough to supposedly support the thesis that “Jesus himself is the Sabbath”, Matthew 11:28 (King James Version):
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

What was translated in German as “refresh” is translated in English as “rest”.

A verse snippet as an explanation

“It’s all right, there it is! Come to me and you will find rest for your souls. Rest is the Sabbath. So Jesus is our Sabbath.” People also like to add that Jesus Christ finally fulfilled the law. “Fulfilled” in the sense of abolishing it, and thus also the Sabbath commandment.

Anyone who is satisfied with this and acts accordingly has a real problem. Because then the interest, let alone the love, for the truth is not particularly great. This is already true of the claim that God’s laws have been abolished, and with them the 10 Commandments. However, these still apply unchanged. (Info). In addition, there is ignorance, or even disinterest, about the difference between moral laws and ceremonial laws (Info).

Rest does not equal Sabbath

However, it is fair and reasonable to refer to the word “rest” as “Sabbath” across the board. To create clarity, one only needs to look at the original Greek text. In Matthew 11:28, the word “anapauó” stands for “refresh” in German or “rest” in English. In this case, the German Bible translation (Schlachter 2000) has hit the nail on the head better than its English counterpart, the King James Version.

The Greek word “anapauó” stands for rest in the sense of spiritual refreshment. In this sense, this does not have much in common with the requirement to rest on the Sabbath by refraining from any secular work. Of course, on a Sabbath, people can also practice “anapauó,” i.e. refresh, rest and rejuvenate their spirit, but this aspect also lacks the explicit framework of a set time, i.e. between Friday sunset and Saturday sunset. This is THE Sabbath, as the Fourth Commandment shows.

A hint that “rest, finding rest” is not about the Sabbath can already be found in the next verse 30:
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.“

If you just read a little before and after a quoted verse, in many cases you get a completely different picture than what is suggested. This is also the case here. Jesus Christ did not even begin to say that He Himself was the Sabbath, but that the oppressed and downtrodden find rest in Him in the sense of spiritual refreshment.

Lord over the Sabbath and not Himself

The Pharisees accused Jesus and His accompanying disciples of violating the Sabbath commandment by plucking grains of wheat. In fact, this was not a prohibition given by God, but a violation of one of the countless rules established by the Pharisees themselves. (Info). At this point, Jesus Christ answered that He is also Lord over the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). It would have been even more convincing if Jesus had answered that “He is the Sabbath.” But He is not. Lord (lawgiver), yes, but He is not the Sabbath itself.

In the place where the word “Sabbath” appears in the Bible translation, the Greek word “sabbaton” (or something similar, depending on the grammatical inflection) can be found.

Every sparrow is a bird, but not every bird is a sparrow. There is rest on the Sabbath, but not every rest mentioned is the Sabbath.

Sabbath – Anytime for everyone

Therefore, the word “rest” does not mean Sabbath in general, just because people should rest on the Sabbath. The Sabbath, the Fourth Commandment, is still binding. This was true in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, it applies not only to the people of Israel, but to all people and will also be valid in the new earth (Isaiah 66:23 – more info).

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)