Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 30, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 34.

Our Bible Reading

Christ and the Sabbath

1. Of what law is the Sabbath a part?

Of the Ten Commandments, or Decalogue. See Ex. 20: 1-17. The fourth precept in that law is regarding the Sabbath.

2. What did the Spirit predict that Christ’s attitude toward the law would be?

“The Lord is well pleased for His righteous-ness’ sake; HE WILL MAGNIFY THE LAW, AND MAKE IT HONORABLE.” Isa. 42: 21.

“Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I DELIGHT to do THY WILL, O My God: yea, THY LAW is within My heart.” Ps. 40: 7, 8.

3. What approval of Christ and what injunction to His people could the Father well give in view of Christ’s attitude toward the law?

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am WELL PLEASED; HEAR YE HIM.” Matt. 17: 5.

4. What does Christ say of His purpose in coming to the world?

“My meat is to DO THE WILL OF HIM that sent Me, and to finish His work.” John 4: 34.

“For I came down from heaven, NOT to do MINE own will, but the WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME.” John 6: 38.

5. What did He say regarding His attitude toward the will of God as expressed in His law?

“Think NOT that I am come to DESTROY THE LAW, or the prophets: I am NOT come TO DESTROY, but TO FULFIL. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matt. 5: 17, 18.

NOTE: To fulfil a law is to do the law. Our Lord Himself perfectly wrought out what the law demanded. But the doing of a law does not abolish the law; else the law of a state fulfilled by loyal obedience would immediately be abolished, and loyalty would become a menace to the safety of the commonwealth. This would not be even good common sense. The fulfilling of the Lord’s law was the doing of that law, or the translation of that law into character. That law was to remain in every jot and tittle until all should be fulfilled, not only the law but the prophets. Every typical law was a prophecy of Christ—Christ fulfilled that law, but prophecies of the future glory will never be completed.

6. What did Jesus say of those who disregarded the law?

“Whosoever therefore shall BREAK one of these LEAST COMMANDMENTS, and shall teach men so, he shall be called THE LEAST [of no account] in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5: 19.

“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work INIQUITY [lawlessness].” Matt. 7: 21-23.

7. In what is summed up the whole work of Christ?

“And thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people FROM THEIR SINS.” Matt. 1: 21.

NOTE: “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3: 4; Rom. 7: 7. Jesus came to save His people from transgressing the law. It is utterly impossible to save a live man from the transgression of a law except to save him to obedience to the law. There is no other side to the question. He who does not transgress, obeys. Saving from transgression is saving to righteousness, and in righteousness is life. Jesus came not to dishonor the law, not to turn men from it, but so to write it in the hearts of His people that they like Him should delight in it forevermore.