Thoughts on the Law and Sabbath.
This is what the great apostle taught Timothy. In the previous verse he says, “We know that the law is good.” He is speaking of the law of ten commandments as a condemning rule, as the means of reproving men of sin. Among the lawless characters that the law, as such, is made for, he mentions the profane. But who are profane persons? Those who profane or treat with irreverence sacred things, among which is the holy Sabbath. Therefore, the sin of Sabbath-breaking is clearly condemned by this passage, unless it can be shown that God has removed his sanctification from it. This he has never done. The text before us should silence those who with an air of triumph ask why the sin of Sabbath-breaking is not condemned in the New Testament. Besides this, the law of ten commandments, which is acknowledged and enforced in the New Testament, Matt. 5 : 17–19 ; 19 : 17, etc., as strongly condemns this sin as it did when Jehovah proclaimed it with a voice that shook the earth ; and the example of Christ and the primitive church in keeping the Sabbath is no slight reproof for those who presumptuously profane God’s holy day. Luke 4 : 16 ; 23 : 56. The original word from which the word profane in this text is translated, is derived from a word that signifies a threshold. As a threshold is open and accessible to all, and is polluted by being passed over, so the Sabbath is made common and trodden under foot by those who profane it. How proper then it is for the prophet Isaiah, while setting forth the necessity of a Sabbath reform, to encourage the people to take away their foot from the Sabbath, from doing their pleasure on God’s holy day. Isa. 58 : 12, 13. The Greek verb to profane, that corresponds with the term under examination, occurs but twice in the Greek Testament. In one instance it is used with reference to the temple ; Acts 24 : 6 ; and in the other, with reference to the Sabbath. Matt. 12 : 5. The enemies of Christ accused him of profaning the Sabbath. Christ in a masterly manner exonerated himself from the unjust charge of Sabbath-breaking. He appealed to the Sabbath law by saying it was lawful to do what he did on the Sabbath day. Verse 12. He justified himself by referring them to their own course toward their beasts, by falling back on the Sabbath as a merciful institution made for man in the beginning, etc. Mark 2 : 27. Thus the Saviour exposed the false notions of the Jews relative to the Sabbath. AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.
When Christ institutes a new ordinance, as, for instance, the ordinance of baptism, or that of the Lord’s supper, he is careful to give instructions that are so clear that all can understand them, and to leave us his example to give force to his teachings. And the apostles in teaching and practicing the ordinances of the Saviour refer to what he did and said. Christ was baptized in Jordan, and taught his disciples to baptize, and at his ascension he commanded to baptize as well as to teach. After that, the apostles practiced baptism, and explained its nature and object, referring to the resurrection of Christ. The Lord’s supper was instituted the memorable night on which Christ was betrayed, and that same night Christ partook of this ordinance with his disciples. And when Paul writes to the church of Corinth on this ordinance, he thus refers back to Christ as authority : “I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.” And he continues, repeating the words the Saviour used in instituting this ordinance. Read 1 Cor. 11 ; Matt. 26 : 3 ; 28 ; Rom. 6. Now where do we find so clear instructions from Christ concerning the first day? We do not find in the history of his life that he ever took the first day in his lips. Where is the example of Christ in favor of the first day as a new Sabbath? And where is the passage in which the apostle refers to Christ as authority for the establishment of a new Sabbath, or for a change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day? THE ROYAL LAW OF LIBERTY.
James 2 : 8–12 “If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” Those who fulfill the law in question “do well,” and are approved of God. This law proceeds from a high authority. It is the royal (kingly) law, the law of the great King. It is not the scripture, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” but according to that scripture (French trans.) ; and this is true of the law of ten commandments, the last six precepts of which are based on equal love to our neighbor. And two of these commandments are thus quoted in this passage : “For he that said [or that law that said, margin], Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.” And he who said these things, said also in the same law, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God ; in it thou shalt not do any work.” “For whosoever shall keep the whole law,” says the apostle, “and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Not that he has violated every precept of that law ; but he has sinned against the authority that gave the law ; he is a transgressor. This is in harmony with the declaration of Christ that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law. And we will here apply the reasoning of James to the Sabbath : “Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou violate the Sabbath, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” Finally, the apostle exhorts his readers to so speak and so do as they that shall be judged by this law, which is the law of liberty, because those who keep it are not under the bondage of condemnation ; but having the Holy Spirit to help them to do right, they are the free children of the Most High, and having no fear, save that of displeasing him, they walk at liberty, delighting greatly in the way of his commandments. May such be the sweet experience of us each.