Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 20, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 24.

Our Bible Reading

Jesus and the Sabbath

1. What prediction did Isaiah make (B.C. 700) concerning our Lord’s attitude to the law of God?

The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will MAGNIFY THE LAW, and make it HONORABLE. Isa. 42:21.

2. What prediction of His earth life did Christ make through the psalmist three centuries before Isaiah?

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 response did Jesus make to this when He came?

For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the WILL OF HIM that sent Me. John 6: 38. My meat is to DO the WILL OF HIM that sent Me. John 4: 34.

4. What does He say of the importance of doing God’s will?

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. Matt. 7: 21-23.

Note.—The observant reader will note that the above scripture from Psalm 40 clearly shows that God’s will and law are identical. This is also clear from the last passage quoted. Those who do not do the will of God are guilty of iniquity, or lawlessness. In other words, they are lawbreakers.

Christ’s object, then, is to place men on that plane where they can keep the law.

5. How did He honor that law by His own conduct?

I have KEPT MY FATHER’S COMMANDMENTS, and abide in His love. John 15: 10. See Prov. 12: 28; Ps. 119: 172.

6. To what extent was that law sacred?

It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one TITTLE OF THE LAW to fail. Luke 16: 17.

7. What did He set forth as the way of life?

If thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. Matt. 19: 17.

8. How did our Lord regard the Sabbath?

It is LAWFUL to do well on the Sabbath days. Matt. 12: 12.

Note.—The Jews charged that our Lord—our Exemplar—broke the Sabbath in the works that He wrought. Jesus clearly teaches that all He did was in harmony with the law.

9. What regard did He show for the Sabbath forty years after His crucifixion at the destruction of Jerusalem?

Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day. Matt. 24: 20.

10. How did those women who were saturated with His teaching regard the Sabbath?

They . . . rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. Luke 23: 56.

Note.—The only Sabbath commandment of the Bible is that of the Decalogue (Ex. 20: 8-11), which declares that “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Jesus affirmed its holiness, magnified its blessedness, made forever honorable by His own obedience its observance. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1 John 2: 6.