- Table of content
- 5.3.4.1 Reasons for the Third Commandment in Israel
- 5.3.4.2 The Sabbath in Israel
- 5.3.4.3 Jesus Christ and the Sabbath
- 5.3.4.4 From Sabbath to Sunday
- 5.3.4.5 Keeping Sunday holy–in divine service
- 5.3.4.6 Working on Sundays–between duty and sanctification
- 5.3.4.7 The structure of the Sunday
5.3.4.3 Jesus Christ and the Sabbath
Jesus' position on the Sabbath differed fundamentally from that of the law-abiding Jews. The conduct of the Son of God makes it clear that the law and the gospel assessed the Sabbath differently. Although Jesus did go to the synagogue on the Sabbath (Luke 4: 16), He nevertheless healed the sick there (Luke 6: 6-11)–which was considered by the scribes to be work, and thus a violation of the Third Commandment. For Jesus, on the other hand, healing the sick was an expression of divine beneficence, and thus also permissible on the Sabbath.
Jesus Christ has the authority to liberate the day of rest from the constrictions of strict legalism: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2: 27).