THE “LORD OF THE SABBATH.”
By A. L. Anthony
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; therefore the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” The word “therefore” is very significant here, forming, as it does, the fitting introduction to the logical conclusion of Christ’s argument. What is the gist of the argument?—Plainly, that the man is of more importance than the Sabbath (important as that is); that man’s life, physical as well as spiritual, is to be considered before and above any perfunctory Sabbath observance; for the Sabbath was not made before man, but for him, he to be the master, or lord, and it to be the servant. Therefore the Son of Man—the second Adam—must be its Lord. Let it be remembered that the Sabbath was given to man while he was yet sinless; when he was, under his Creator, “lord of the earth.” Man was not, of course, to exceed his prerogative, nor abuse his privileges as lord and master. “A righteous man regardeth [even] the life of his beast.” So the righteous man will not abuse his privileges in his use of the Sabbath. He certainly will not trample it underfoot, as many are doing to-day. But as sinful man has forfeited, by sin, his right and title as lord of the earth, so also, he is no longer lord of the Sabbath. Christ, the sinless and successful Second Adam, the Son of Man, is now, in a twofold sense (as Son of God and Son of Man), the only and rightful “Lord of the Sabbath,” as He is also “Lord of all.” So we find that most of the Sabbath observance in, and for a long time before, Christ’s day, among other observances, was a mere “yoke of bondage.” And much of the Sabbath observance ever since has been, and is still, of the same character. The master and the servant have exchanged places. Mere legal Sabbath-keeping, on any day, amounts to nothing. And if this is true with reference to the Bible Sabbath—the seventh day—it can not be any less true of a day not thus sanctified. If man was not made for even the true Sabbath, he certainly was not made for any counterfeit Sabbath. Again, the true Sabbath was made by the Creator for man, while the counterfeit was made by man, without any divine authority. Not only is a person that makes counterfeit money considered a criminal, but the person also is guilty who knowingly uses it. And what should be thought, what does God think, of people who not only keep the spurious Sabbath, but also attempt to compel their fellow men to do the same? Yet this is just what certain self-styled “reformers”—over-zealous Sunday advocates—are doing to-day. Thus they not only usurp Christ’s prerogative as Lord of the Sabbath, but they also, at the same time, assume lordship over men’s consciences. This is surely a great departure and a great sin. Let us consult the Lord of the Sabbath—our Lord—in His teaching and His example, and learn what true Christian Sabbath-keeping is. His yoke is not galling, but “easy;” His burden is not “grievous to be borne,” but “light.” And we are assured that if we come and learn of Him, we “shall find rest”—true Sabbath-keeping—to our souls. But there is no compulsion, either in the coming or in the learning. No man, nor body of men, can justly prescribe even the particular manner of Sabbath observance. No long drawn out rabbinical rules, no pharisaical nor Puritanical regulations, tedious even in their minuteness, are allowable in the light of New Testament preaching and practise. The plain Word of God is the only safe and all-sufficient guide. “Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh.” Gal. 5: 13. “It is lawful,” says Christ, “to do well on the Sabbath day.” Plymouth, Cal. A. L. ANTHONY.